World Association of Schools of Social Work

The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) is a broad global association of social work schools, social work training programs at all levels, and social work educators.

IASSW aims to promote the development of social work training worldwide, develop standards to improve the quality of social work training, encourage international exchanges, create forums for sharing research and scholarship programs in social work, and promote social development and human rights through policies and advocacy activities. IASSW holds consultative status with the United Nations and participates as a non-governmental organization in UN activities in Geneva, Vienna, and New York. Through its activities at the United Nations and with other international organizations, IASSW demonstrates its commitment to social work training at an international level.

The office of the President of IASSW, Abye Tasse, is located at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. IASSW is operated through an Executive Board under a Constitution adopted by the General Assembly for a two-year term. The Association's mission emphasizes promoting the robust development of social work education worldwide and the participation of the social work educator community in international exchanges of information and experience in social work training.

IASSW achieves its operational objectives through:

• The biennial conference of social work educators is also the Association's Congress.
• publications about electronic newsletters
• participation in United Nations activities
• Co-sponsored with the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) to publish the journal International Social Work.
• activities of committees and special groups
• Funding for the implementation of small-scale projects at the national level on social work training.

Recent key policy documents of this Association include: The Concept of Social Work, Global Standards for Social Work Training, and Ethics of Social Work: Common Principles (compiled by the International Federation of Social Workers).

IASSW was founded in 1928 at the First International Congress on Social Work in Paris. It was an initiative of 51 social work schools in Europe, initially known as the International Committee. The association was restructured after World War II, expanding its membership to many different countries and subsequently renamed the International Association of Social Work Schools. Its members are social work schools worldwide, grouped into five regional organizations: Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America and the Caribbean. These regional organizations have representatives on the Board of Directors and are governed through IASSW.

Membership registration is open to all training institutions, social work educators, and other individuals interested in social work training.

• Tran Kham
(According toiassw-aiets.org)