Theory and practice in social work education: the role of the Laboratory of Social Studies and Technical Reports (LABESP)

Abstract

This paper presents LABESP, a teaching-learning project developed within the scope of Social Work internship supervision, linked to the professional activities carried out at the “Centro Jurídico Social” Auxiliary Unit (UACJS) of São Paulo State University (UNESP), Franca/SP campus. The study starts from the hypothesis that the technical-operative dimension receives less emphasis in undergraduate education when compared to the theoretical-methodological and ethical-political dimensions, which weakens the training process of Social Work students and compromises the critical and competent exercise of the profession. Considering the imperatives of capital reproduction in contemporary society and their impacts on daily professional practice, the paper argues for placing the training process of social workers at the center of the debate. Methodologically, the study revisits the Social Work process developed in the unit, describing the practices, instruments, and strategies adopted, and presents a comparative analysis of three technical reports prepared within LABESP, based on a case study. The results indicate that the project enhances the development of analytical, critical, and technical-operative competencies among students/interns, while encouraging written production and well-founded argumentation. Thus, LABESP represents a relevant alternative for improving academic training and strengthening a critical and socially committed professional practice.