International Association of Schools of Social Work

The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) is a world-wide association of schools of social work, social work education programs at all levels, and social work educators.

IASSW aims to promote the development of social work education worldwide, develop standards for improving the quality of social work education, encourage international exchange, create forums for sharing research and fellowships in social work, and promote social development and human rights through policy and advocacy. IASSW has consultative status with the United Nations and participates as a non-governmental organization in UN activities in Geneva, Vienna and New York. Through its work within the United Nations and with other international organizations, IASSW represents social work education at the international level.

The IASSW President's Office - Abye Tasse, is located at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. IASSW is governed by a Board of Directors under a Constitution approved by the General Assembly for a two-year term. The Association's mission emphasizes the promotion of strong social work education worldwide and the participation of the social work education community in international exchanges of information and experiences in social work education.

IASSW carries out its operational purposes through:

• The biennial conference of social work educators, which is also the Congress of the Association.
• e-newsletter publication
• participation in United Nations activities
• co-sponsored with the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) the publication of the International Journal of Social Work
• activities of committees and special groups
• Funding small national projects on social work training

Recent major policy documents from the Association include: Concepts of Social Work, Global Standards for Social Work Education, and Social Work Ethics: General Principles (edited by the International Federation of Social Workers).

IASSW was founded in 1928 at the First International Congress of Social Work in Paris. It was an initiative of 51 European schools of social work, and was originally called the International Committee. It was reorganized after World War II, and expanded its membership to many different countries and was renamed the International Association of Schools of Social Work. Its members are schools from all over the world, grouped into five regional organizations: Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America and the Caribbean. These regional organizations are represented on the Board of Directors and are governed through IASSW.

Membership is open to all schools of social work, social work educators, and other individuals interested in social work education.

• Tran Kham
(According toiassw-aiets.org)