Committees

Welcome message from the Steering Committee

Dear colleagues, students and practitioners,

As the chair of the European Association of Schools of Social Work, I would like to welcome all members of the social work education community to the bi-annual Conference of Social Work Education 2023, organised by the European Association of Schools of Social Work (EASSW) in partnership with Higher Institute of Social Work of Porto (Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto) in Oporto/Matosinhos.

Four years after our last face to face conference in Madrid, we are aiming to meet again, exchange ideas, knowledge and see how Social Work Education has been developing the past years through all these challenges that we broadly discussed in our virtual conference in Tallinn 2021.

ECSWE 2023 conference theme is Diversity and Social Work Education: Building Bridges for Sustainable Futures. Having the knowledge and the experience gained from the past global crisis (financial, health, war) this ECSWE Conference aims to find answers to how we co-build knowledge between students, service users, academics and practitioners to address its aims as outlined in its subthemes. Therefore, we want to provide the space during these three days to develop the social work curriculum that enhances the future skills of social workers learning from past experiences and building on strengths and weakness, for a more sustainable future.

Therefore, we expect that Social Work Education can be a lead actor in addressing our current crises in a meaningful way, by learning lessons from what has gone before and by creating renewed inter and trans-disciplinary knowledge – towards the sustainability and peace to which “future generations” have a right.

Concluding my welcoming letter, let me say that it is our wish to raise all these issues during the conference in order to bridge our near past with the future in the ‘’here and now’’ in Oporto/Matosinhos 20-23 June 2023 and let us hope that by the end of the upcoming conference, we will have learned things that will safeguard our future respecting diversity in all aspects of our life.

Looking forward meeting you all in the beautiful city of Oporto/Matosinhos!

Kind regards,

Dr. Christos Panagiotopoulos
Professor in Mental Health Social Work,
University of Nicosia
Chair of the EASSW

Welcome message from the Scientific Committee

Dear Conference Participants,

As the Secretary of the European Association of Schools of Social Work and chair of the scientific committee I  warmly welcome all members of the social work education community to the bi-annual Conference of Social Work Education 2023, organised by the European Association of Schools of Social Work (EASSW) in partnership with The Higher Institute of Social Work of Porto (Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto) in Oporto/Matosinhos.

The theme of the conference this year is Diversity and Social Work Education: Building Bridges for Sustainable Futures. The city of Oporto is known as ‘the city of bridges’, and the conference is framed by this architectural scenery that interconnect different parts of the city, as well as its metaphoric meaning for bridging difference and co-building communities in line with the core values of social work.

In this conference we wish to create a meeting place for theoretical renewal, and critical and creative pedagogies that can transform the social work curricula to meet the multiple crisis of our time, such as the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and environmental destruction. As we have discussed in the scientific committee, these crises that occur in real time of our present emerges from diverse and interconnected histories and geopolitics. At the time when the conference is planned, social work education needs to increase the fight for democracy, peace, dignity, and social justice.

The scientific committee has discussed the need for a revitalized understanding of diversity and difference from multiple perspectives of privilege and oppression that recognises the threats towards fundamental rights of human dignity as well as eco-social and more-than-human dimensions to shape the futures of socially responsible societies. The conference calls for action to realise the commitment for environmental justice by integrating theories and practices of economic, ecological, and social sustainability in social work education.

My final welcoming words is to kindly ask all of us who come to this conference to take part of the information about Sustainable conference planning at the ECSWE conference website. By the planning of our own travelling, accommodation choices and other efforts that can be made in the conference we can contribute to make the conference as eco-friendly as possible.

I warmly welcome all participants to the ECSWE-conference in Oporto/Matosinhos 2023!

Mona B Livholts
Chair of the Scientific Committee
Professor of Social Work, University of Helsinki, Finland

Welcome message from the Local Organizing Committee

Porto.

A city full of charm and history. Portugal’s second city and an historical trading centre, Porto is known for combining its genuine character with a tradition of cosmopolitanism, where its residents welcome visitors with open arms.

Porto’s historical centre, one of the most beautiful in Europe, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Just across the Douro river, in the city of Gaia, you will find the famous Port wine cellars where you will be able to taste our most famous wine and learn about its rich history. Towards north, by the sea, we arrive at the neighbouring borough of Matosinhos, where our campus is located. Rooted in its long port and fishing tradition, Matosinhos is today a model of sustainable and solidary city. It is also the place where we can eat the best fish in the world!

It is in this setting so rich in history, places and people that we welcome you to ECSWE 2023 with great enthusiasm and with the expectation that it will be a memorable experience for all.

As the President of the Scientific Committee recalls in her welcome message, Porto is known as the city of bridges. That’s why our conference theme - Diversity in Social Work education: building bridges for a sustainable future – couldn’t be more appropriate

We’ve prepared a programme with the Scientific Committee and with the active collaboration of the EASSW Board which focuses on some of the greatest challenges humanity is facing today. We hope to reflect on the important role that social work education can plan in addressing these challenges.

ISSSP is a private, non-profit school of social work. Founded 65 years ago, we are one of the oldest non-State higher education institutions in the country and a school of reference in the teaching of social work. With two bachelor's degrees and three master's degrees in social work and social gerontology, we remain committed to the humanistic and socially committed spirit that have been with us from the beginning.

We are proud of our important contribution to the democratization of education, preparing young professionals from all backgrounds to intervene in the some of the most challenging fieldwork placements.

June is a month of celebration in Portugal, with traditional Popular Saints festivities all across the country. In Porto we celebrate St John’s day on the night of 23 June. Thousands of people, of all ages and walks of life, take to the streets to socialize in a family atmosphere and enjoy locally-organised outdoor music and dancing events and the impressive firework display on the Douro river banks.

I hope you too will join us for a memorable conference!

See you soon.

José Alberto Reis
Dean of Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto
Chair of Local Organising Commité