D.K Shinde School of social work is an independent Department of SIBER, Kolhapur imparting scientific training in social work profession through class room teaching, visualization of OHP, DLP and video cassettes of the concerned subjects. The orientation /Observation visits are organized prior to placing students for concurrent fieldwork practice. Guest lecturers of eminent experts from various fields are arranged. The Department is also involved in organizing various social / extension activities. It co-ordinates with various social organizations, social welfare departments and NGOs for undertaking different activities related to welfare and research.

The students of MSW I year are given exposure to rural life and application of social work knowledge, methods, skills and techniques into practice through Rural camp while the  MSWII year students are given  a similar exposure to different organization depending on their specialization through  Study Tour organised for eight- ten  days in  the month of January/February every year.

Apart from the curriculum, social activities, research activities, health checkup camps, blood donation camps, guest lectures and faculty enrichment programme are arranged by the department every academic year. All the activities of the department are organized under the guidance of the Director and Head of the Department, by the Faculty members and students. The President, Secretary and Managing Trustee of SIBER also cooperate and support for organizing academic oriented activities for overall development of students community. Department organizes various activities like extension activities and faculty enrichment programme under CPE Programme. Most of the faculties are benefitted as they are enlightened when they undergo faculty enrichment programme, or are involved in organizing and participating in workshops, training programme, seminars and conferences.

ABOUT SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT:

The Department of social work was instituted on the same day when SIBER as an institute was established i.e. in 1976. Since 1994 the department of social work was renamed as D.K. Shinde School of Social Work, in a ceremony, at the hands of former Social Welfare Minister, Hon. Shri. Ramdas Athavale.

D.K. Shinde School of Social Work offers two year (full time) Post-Graduate Programme in Social Work (M.S.W.).  The M.S.W. Programme consists of Four Semesters.  First Two Semesters (M.S.W.-I year) subjects are Generic in nature with 14 Papers/subjects (each Semester- Seven Papers).  And for MSW II year, presently only three specializations are offered viz., (i) Human Resource Management & Labour Welfare (ii) Urban & Rural Community Development and (iii) Medical and Psychiatric Social Work.  In Second Year also there are 14 subjects (each Semester – Seven papers).  Hence, in the entire MSW course consists of 28 subjects besides concurrent fieldwork, rural camp and study tour.

The main objective of the course is to impart the Professional Social Work Education to those who are desirous of making a career in the field of Social Welfare, Human Resource Management and Labour Welfare, Urban & Rural Community Development and Medical & Psychiatric Social Work.