International Social Work

Steering committee

Nicole Langenegger Roux, Director School of Social Work, Sierre

Lucie Kniel-Fux, Head of the Social Work degree programme, Sierre

Stefanie Kurt, assistant professor UAS, School of Social Work, Sierre

Lisa Marie Borrelli, professor UAS, School of Social Work, Sierre

Partner institutions

International Institute for the Rights of the Child, Bramois, Valais, Switzerland, 

Cantonal Youth Office, Valais, Switzerland

Module 1 will be held at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland Valais, School of Social Work in Sierre.

The Child Protection module deals with the international, historical and legal framework of child protection (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, national laws etc.). It presents the challenges for children needing protection (historically, sociologically, legally, and pedagogically), the current national and international situation for families (family forms, social policies, substance abuse, violence, child abduction) and the specific situation of migrant children. It considers specific local institutional developments and social work practice and allows for international comparisons of case studies in child protection. It includes visits of international research institutions, political bodies and social work facilities in the field of child protection.

3th to 14th of July 2023, Sierre (Switzerland)

Module 2 will be held at the Department of Social Work at the Malmö University in Sweden.

This module deals with social policy and social work organisation in different situations based on a comparative perspective. The practice of social work in an international environment is discussed. Moreover, it focuses on knowledge of various welfare systems in terms of social policy and social work. The course is discussed through different themes, such as children and family, ageing, migration and drug addiction, profession, and education. Furthermore, the course helps to develop the students’ reflections based on their professional identity. Students are expected to reflect critically, analyse, and discuss different aspects of the welfare system, such as social policy, organisation, challenges, and social work in a Swedish and/or other welfare context.

30th of January to 9th of February 2024, Malmö (Sweden)

More information

Module 3 will be held at the University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences in Osnabrück (Germany).

Migration is one of the social problems that occur in the field of international social work, not only in Europe but worldwide. In that respect awareness about cultural diversity is pivotal. The module provides the opportunity to reflect issues concerning cultural diversity in a group of students from different European countries. A lot of problems regarding cultural diversity refer to religious diversity. These issues are in the focus of the seminar discussion. The seminar also provides the opportunity to explore the practice of interreligious learning during field trips.

7th to 13th of July 2024, Osnabrück (Germany)

More information

HES-SO students  

Participation is open to fifth semester students (full-time) and seventh semester students (part-time) enrolled in a Bachelor’s in social work at one of the schools of social work of the HES-SO (Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, Sierre). Please note that participation is limited to a maximum of 10 students. Interested students must be willing to travel abroad and have experience in intercultural communication or in international exchanges.

18 ECTS will be awarded for the successful participation in the three two-week modules. These 18 ECTS can be considered equivalent to the successful participation in a “module d’approfondissement / Schwerpunktmodul” (12 ECTS), a “module libre / frei gestaltbares Modul” (3 ECTS) or “credit libre/freie Credits” (3 ECTS), depending on the applicable framework curricula.

Other students

Participation in this module is open to students enrolled in a Bachelor’s in social work at the University of Applied Sciences, School of Social Work in Osnabrück and the Department of Social Work at the Malmö University in Sweden.

Students from other universities may contact Lisa Marie Borrelli and Stefanie Kurt for enquiries.

6 ECTS will be awarded for the successful participation in the two-week module “Child Protection”.

Working language is English (classes, presentations, written papers). Students must have good oral and written English skills (at least level B1/B2, in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Language skills other than English such as French, German or Swedish are an asset.

HES-SO students  

Participating HES-SO students must pay CHF 600 in total (CHF 200 per module) for travel and accommodation, which will be arranged by the organisers (except within Switzerland). Please note that no meals other than breakfast are included in these costs.

Other students

Other participating students must pay CHF 200 (approximately EUR 190) in total for accommodation, which will be arranged by the organisers. Please note that no meals other than breakfast are included in these costs.

Students must make their own travel arrangements to Sierre, Switzerland.

HES-SO students

Interested students from the HES-SO must send a one-page motivation letter and their CV in English to Lisa Marie Borrelli and Stefanie Kurt by 16.01.2023. An interview may be organised to assess the students’ motivation and language skills. Students will be notified of the professors’ decision after 30.01.2023.

Other students

Interested students from the Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences must contact their head of the International Social Work programme.

Interested students from the Malmö University must send a one-page motivation letter and their CV in English to Lisa Marie Borrelli and Stefanie Kurt by 1st March 2023. An interview may be organised to assess the students’ motivation and language skills. Students will be notified of the professors’ decision after 13.03.2023.

Students from other universities may contact Lisa Marie Borrelli and Stefanie Kurt for enquiries.

• Flyer International Social Work
• Flyer Child Protection

The three modules of the International Social Work specialisation may be cancelled or (partially) held online, depending on the situation and the development of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students will be informed in due time.

Prof. Dr Stefanie Kurt,
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, School of Social Work, Sierre
stefanie.kurt@hevs.ch

Prof. Dr Lisa Marie Borrelli,
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, School of Social Work, Sierre
lisa.borrelli@hevs.ch

Michaël Emery,
Assistant, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, School of Social Work, Sierre
michael.emery@hevs.ch