Abstract:
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019. This chapter identifies the challenges facing social work education in the contemporary era and suggests the need for bold and courageous leadership for change. It considers the wider contextual issues that influence social work education within the academy, as well as those affecting the profession for which programmes are preparing practitioners. These dynamics have given rise to innovative strategies and initiatives, including embracing leadership in the public ‘marketplace’ of ideas and a willingness to lead with professional values. The chapter makes a strong argument for refusing to be defined by our reactions to neoliberalism and other regressive ideology and/or mechanisms and instead find – and create – spaces of opportunity.