34th Congress of the World Association of Schools of Social Work

From July 20th to 24th, 2008, the 34th Congress of the World Association of Social Work Schools will be held in Durban, South Africa. This congress will have the theme “Overcoming the global-local divide"aims to build the capacity of social workers to meet the needs of vulnerable groups in developing countries."

The primary purpose of the World Association of Schools of Social Work is to promote the development of social work education worldwide. Simultaneously, the Association aims to develop standards for social work education, encourage international exchanges, create forums for sharing research and scholarship programs in social work, and promote human rights and social development through advocacy and policymaking. The outcomes of this 34th Congress are geared towards achieving social justice for millions of marginalized people around the world.

The 33rd Congress was held in 2006 in Chile, with the participation of over 1000 delegates from 79 countries around the world.

The South African Minister for Social Development, Dr. Zola Skweyiya, will deliver the opening address for this conference, with the theme:Overcoming the global-local divide: Challenges for social work training and practice.This congress will provide an opportunity for participating members from various countries to exchange views on common issues concerning social work training, as well as to develop urgent solutions to pressing social needs around the world.

The topics to be discussed at the conference include:

• The relationship between developed and developing countries: Globalization, growth, inequality, and poverty; the intersection of racial, class, and gender issues;
• Context-based social work: Developing training and practice activities in social work that are appropriate to local conditions;
• General and specific issues: Social exclusion, human rights, and social justice;
• Innovative pedagogical strategies: Enhancing social work training and research, developing knowledge and practice (including practical training, e-learning, and interdisciplinary activities);
• Context of practice: Family-centered practices, children and youth; social work with the elderly; health as psychosocial development; individual, group and community-based social work (including advocacy, social work at the local, national and international levels); social security, social welfare and social development;
• Institutional context: state administration, social governance, and planning;
• Historical context: The influence of historical issues on contemporary social work training and practice (regional and national perspectives);
• Specific concerns include: International exchange and cooperation on the development of social work training and practice; patriarchal systems, women and gender; and preparing the boundaries for social workers in areas such as war, disease, poverty, and epidemics.

For all information regarding the Congress and its results, please visit the website:http://www.iassw2008.co.za

• Tran Kham (synthetic)