State of the issue and new challenges of Social Work: reflections of recently graduated professionals from Peru and Spain

Currently the primacy of the market economy in most of the nations is constituted as a global phenomenon, which has direct consequences on the structure of the different states socio-political systems. In this framework, the way in which the relations between the market and each nation-state are materialized, including their intervention strategies, generate differential contexts with relevant implications in various areas, including education. These relationships deeply affect the social protection systems and especially the Public System of Social Services, traditionally associated with the most vulnerable and less economically solvent population. The discipline of Social Work is no stranger to this situation, living in recent years convulsive moments both in terms of the construction of own knowledge and in the practice of the profession. Given this situation, it is intended to obtain the discourse that social workers have on aspects as important as the relevance of the training model, the significance given to research, the social imaginary around the discipline or the adequacy of the available resources for the exercise of the profession.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

High cell density cultivation of Escherichia coli K4 in a microfiltration bioreactor: a step towards improvement of chondroitin precursor production

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The bacteria <it>Escherichia coli </it>K4 produces a capsular polysaccharide (K4 CPS) whose backbone is similar to the non sulphated chondroitin chain. The chondroitin sulphate is one of the major components of the extra-cellular matrix of the vertebrate connective tissues and a high value molecule, widely employed as active principle in the treatment of osteoarthritis. It is usually obtained by extraction from animal tissues, but the risk of virus contaminations, as well as the scarceness of raw material, makes this productive process unsafe and unable to satisfy the growing market demand. In previous studies a new biotechnological process to produce chondroitin from <it>Escherichia coli </it>K4 capsular polysaccharide was investigated and a 1.4 g·L^-1K4 CPS concentration was reached using fed-batch fermentation techniques. In this work, on the trail of these results, we exploited new fermentation strategies to further improve the capsular polysaccharide production.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The inhibitory effect of acetate on the bacterial cells growth and K4 CPS production was studied in shake flask conditions, while a new approach, that combined the optimization of the feeding profiles, the improvement of aeration conditions and the use of a microfiltration bioreactor, was investigated in three different types of fermentation processes. High polysaccharide concentrations (4.73 ± 0.2 g·L^-1), with corresponding average yields (0.13 ± 0.006 g_{K4 CPS}·g_cdw^-1), were obtained; the increase of K4 CPS titre, compared to batch and fed-batch results, was of 16-fold and 3.3-fold respectively, while average yield was almost 3.5 and 1.4 fold higher.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The increase of capsular polysaccharide titre confirmed the validity of the proposed fermentation strategy and opened the way to the use of the microfiltration bioreactor for the biotechnological production of chondroitin.</p

La lectura dialógica como recurso educativo innovador en el Grado de Trabajo Social

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar una iniciativa de Investigación-Acción en torno a la aplicación de la lectura pedagógica dialógica como recurso innovador en el Grado de Trabajo Social de la Universidad de Málaga (España). Se implementó en la asignatura Perspectivas contemporáneas en Trabajo Social: epistemología, teoría e investigación (2019-2020). En dicha actividad participaron 24 alumnos, 19 mujeres y 5 hombres. La tarea se centró en los capítulos 5o “Particularidades del conocimiento científico social” y 6o “Delimitación de las Ciencias Sociales” de la obra “Ciencias Sociales. Epistemología, lógica y metodología”, Sierra-Bravo (1984). Se establecieron grupos de trabajo de 4 estudiantes, dedicándose la primera parte de la sesión al capítulo 5o y la segunda al 6o. Se presentaron un conjunto de cuestiones, que incluían la reflexión crítica en torno a una serie de párrafos claves, que debían responder por escrito cada uno de los grupos. Así, en el contexto de cada grupo, los cuatro componentes debían leer de manera conjunta el capítulo, apoyándose mutuamente, para paulatinamente ir dando respuesta a las cuestiones planteadas. Durante este periodo, a través de la observación participante (3 minutos por grupo, de manera rotativa), se evaluó el desempeño de cada uno de los grupos y, en última instancia, se resolvieron las dudas surgidas. Una vez finalizada la redacción del informe grupal, en el gran grupo, se repasaron los interrogantes propuestos, fomentándose el debate dialógico sobre la realidad actual de las Ciencias Sociales. La lectura-tertulia dialógica contribuyó notablemente a la comprensión de los complejos textos y al desarrollo del pensamiento crítico, la motivación y el conocimiento colectivo sobre los debates epistemológicos actuales en Ciencias Sociales ( Laorden y Foncillas, 2019).Agradecimientos: Este trabajo ha sido posible gracias a la financiación del I Plan Propio Integral de Docencia. Universidad de Málaga (UMA). Proyecto de Innovación Educativa 19-061: “El uso de las metodologías activas en el aula y de las TIC como herramientas para mejorar la motivación y el rendimiento académico”. Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Las TICS y la Gamificación en el alumnado de Trabajo Social Innovación educativa

El desarrollo de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TICS) constituye uno de los grandes hitos de nuestra era (Cabero y Ruiz-Palmero, 2018). En el ámbito educativo, incluido el nivel superior, se está evidenciando el aumento de la presencia de las nuevas tecnologías en los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje (Pérez, Miño, Miño y Feijoó, 2017). En este contexto, la Gamificación asociada a las TICS se sitúa como una de las estrategias estrella, en la que el componente lúdico y las nuevas tecnologías se ponen al servicio del aprendizaje significativo de alumnado. Se presenta una iniciativa de Investigación-Acción educativa que trata de arrojar luz en torno a los beneficios y contraindicaciones que supone la inclusión de estrategias de Gamificación en el alumnado universitario del Grado de Trabajo Social.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Social discourse on cyberbullying in the digital press: An analysis for social intervention professionals.

Given the influence of the mass media on constructing realities and opinions, we investigated how the phenomenon of cyberbullying is presented in the digital versions of the high-profile newspapers El País and El Mundo. A qualitative method was used. In the first stage, thematic analysis was applied to the textual content of the selected news items. Three themes were obtained:1: Metamorphosis of school bullying: the emergence of cyberbullying; 2: Patriarchy in cyberbullying: gender issues; and 3: The COVID-19 pandemic: a breeding ground for cyberbullying. In the second stage, discursive analysis was conducted to study in further depth the interconnected contents found in the three themes. The following IR was obtained: An incipient prevention-intervention approach against cyberbullying. The results suggest that there is a pressing need to plan and implement systematic and well-coordinated measures. To do so, special emphasis must be placed on sensitizing society in general and social intervention professionals in particular to these new ways of exercising violence such that they support and contribute socially to this initiative. As part of their political agendas, all the institutions involved should prioritize the struggle against the current scourge of cyberbullying

Análisis temático sobre las vivencias de ser madres solteras por elección.

This study explores single motherhood by choice analyzing the discourse of selected women who actively decide to become single mothers. Specifically, it focuses on knowing their experiences and investigating the challenges faced by these mothers. A qualitative method was used, in particular, a thematic content analysis. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect the information. Through a detailed analysis of the interviews, two thematic blocks were obtained that help to understand the experiences of the mothers interviewed: "The decision to form a family" and "Challenges of being single mothers by choice: Normalization". It is found that the conventional family model is present in the construction of the social practices that shape the fact of being single mothers by choice. It is considered necessary for psychosocial intervention professionals to have a set of knowledge and tools that allow them to understand the aspects linked to social change that arise from the experience of new family forms. It is demanded that these professionals, mainly social workers, include family diversity as a central field of research and intervention in their disciplines

Una aproximación discursiva desde el Trabajo Social sobre el acoso escolar

The objective of this study was to explore the social framework of bullying using the discourse of the different agents involved. A qualitative method was used (i.e. thematic analysis). We collected information from 25 semi-structured interviews. Four themes were identified: “Descriptive elements of bullying”; “Bullying is a social issue”; “Normalizing bullying hidden behind other types of violence”, and “An integrated struggle against bullying”. This study shows that bullying is a social problem associated with other types of violence. Bullying should also be studied from the perspective of Social Work to generate new strategies and effective social intervention and prevention programs.Este estudio tiene como objetivo conocer cómo se está conformando socialmente el fenómeno del acoso escolar a partir del discurso de distintos agentes implicados. Se empleó un método cualitativo, concretamente, el análisis temático. De este modo, para la recogida de la información se realizaron 25 entrevistas semiestructuradas. Se identificaron 4 bloques temáticos que nos ayudan a describir este hecho: “Elementos descriptores del acoso escolar”, “El acoso escolar es un problema de la sociedad”, “La naturalización del acoso escolar enmascarado en otros tipos de violencia” y “La lucha integral contra el acoso escolar”. Este estudio muestra que el acoso escolar es un problema social asociado a otros tipos de violencia. El bullying también debe ser estudiado desde la perspectiva del Trabajo Social para generar nuevas estrategias y programas de intervención y prevención social efectivos