Studenti di servizio sociale al fianco delle comunità locali: imparare assieme come innovare il welfare. Una ricerca nell’ambito della social work education.

This article examines the educational experience of Unconventional Practice Placements, an innovative practice learning model within social work education. In line with the principles of Relational Social Work, the aim of this educational approach is to promote the integration of professional and experiential knowledge with community resources. Within this framework, students facilitate participatory planning processes, working alongside citizens, volunteers, professionals and service users to co-construct community-based welfare initiatives. The study employs mixed-methods design comprising a quantitative survey of students who completed the placement between 2015 and 2024 and qualitative interviews with individuals involved in designing and implementing the projects. The survey reconstructs project characteristics, forms of stakeholder engagement, and educational outcomes, while the interviews provide a deeper understanding of participants’ experiences and contributions. The findings show that students involved more than 20,000 people across the profiling, planning, and implementation phases. Most students report substantial development of relational, reflective and facilitation skills, while collaborators describe dynamics of reciprocity, empowerment and personal growth. More than half of the projects continue beyond the end of the placement, highlighting this educational experience’s capacity to activate community resources and generate lasting change within local contexts.