Steering Committee
Dear Friends, Colleagues and Students,
It is with great pleasure that the European Association of Schools of Social Work has announced its forthcoming biannual conference for 2025 in Salzburg Austria. In Oporto in 2023 we discussed about building bridges.
In June 2025, the conference aim is to investigate the ways in which Social Work Education (SWE) can foster social connectedness as an important pillar for an inclusive, democratic, healthy and (socially) sustainable society. SW educators, researchers, students, service users, activists and practitioners are invited to elaborate on how SWE can (critically) address and/or promote this aim as described.
Let us not forget that one of the traditional aims of our profession is to connect people when in vulnerable situations, to connect professionals when we work together, to connect all the necessary strings as to find solutions. It is also important to connect amongst us in order to learn from each other, to share good and innovative practices and to show to our students the real meaning of social connectedness.
In summary it is important to listen carefully, learn through our past experiences and design together with all stakeholders our present and future. Therefore, the meaning of social connectedness is perhaps even more contemporary than other times due to all global crises we live nowadays thus let us see through our participation in Salzburg how is demonstrated in Social Work Education and practice.
Looking forward seeing you all there and living the experience of Austrian hospitality!
Kind regards, the steering committee!
President EASSW, Cyprus School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Treasurer EASSW, Researcher/Lecturer, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
Vice-President EASSW, Head of Department of Social Pedagogy and Social Rehabilitation, University of Lodz
Head of Study Programme MA Social Innovation, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences
Head of Study Programme BA Social Work, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences
Head of Department Applied Social Sciences, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences
Secretary EASSW, Researcher/Lecturer, University of Prešov
Head of Research, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences
Scientific Committee
Dear Conference Participants,
As the Secretary of the European Association of Schools of Social Work and member of the Scientific Committee European Conference on Social Work Education 2025 I warmly welcome all members of the Social Work Education community to the bi-annual conference, organized by the European Association of Schools of Social Work (EASSW) in partnership with the Department of Applied Social Sciences of the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, Austria.
Following the success of the recent “Building Bridges” themed European Conference of Social Work Education (ECSWE) in 2023 in Porto, this year’s conference theme is “Social Connectedness – Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities”, aiming to investigate the ways in which Social Work Education (SWE) can foster social connectedness as an important pillar for an inclusive, democratic, healthy and (socially) sustainable society.
In this conference we wish to create a meeting place for Social Work educators, researchers, students, service users, activists and practitioners who are invited to elaborate on how SWE can (critically) address and/or promote social connectedness. Based on Social Work values, The Scientific Committee encourage collaborative, innovative, creative, and proactive approaches to developing Social Work curricula, including ethics, theories, models and interventions, addressing the main theme and/or one of the conference subthemes: Connectedness in Politics and Democracy; Social Connectedness as a Social, Mental and Physical Health Issue; Connectedness in Ecology and Sustainability; Connectedness across Social and Cultural Divides; Digital Connectedness and (New) Technologies.
As connectedness appears to be an indisputably positive aspect of social life, it also needs to be reflected critically. In the context of multiple (social, political, environmental and war) crises worldwide, approaching the “legitimacy” of being socially “disconnected”, especially against the backdrop of neoliberal dominant discourses, reinforced by modern technologies, propagating the regime of permanent “connection”, could be crucial. Social Work Education needs to emphasize the importance of democracy, human rights and dignity, social justice and freedom.
Thank you all for your dedication to Social Work and to Social Work Education especially and looking forward to the inspiring discussions and multiple perspectives on Social Connectedness.
We warmly welcome all of you …
Head of Study Programme BA Social Work, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences
Vice-President EASSW, Head of Department of Social Pedagogy and Social Rehabilitation, University of Lodz
Associate Dean Internationalisation, University of Dundee
Senior Researcher, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences
Local organizing Committee
Dear Friends, Colleagues and Students,
Salzburg, a city with a population of approximately 150,000, is divided into 24 distinct neighborhoods. While the city faces social challenges, such as housing issues, practitioners experience the social work landscape as a close-knit community with a well-connected network that extends beyond the city borders to include the other four districts in the state of Salzburg. A significant driver of innovation in this field is the Department of Applied Social Sciences at FH Salzburg. The department plays a crucial role in bridging research and practice, connecting academic insights with regional service entities. This collaboration not only enriches the student curriculum with practical knowledge and skills from the field but also fosters the continuous improvement of social services across the region.
The local organizing committee at FH Salzburg is dedicated to making sure everyone has the best ECSWE 25 experience possible. We are here to provide you with all the necessary information for planning your visit, ensure a smooth and well-organized schedule, create opportunities for dynamic exchanges and networking and plan informative field visits, designed to give you a deeper understanding of the local social work sector.
Whether you are here to learn, share, or connect, we are here to support you and ensure that your conference experience is both productive and enjoyable.
Kind regards, the local organizing committee!
Head of Study Programme MA Social Innovation, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences
Head of Research, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences
Senior Lecturer, Head of Subject Area Profession and Skills, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences
Office, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences
Researcher, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences
Team of Reviewers
Allegri Elena, Università del Piemonte Orientale – Alessandria, Italy
Balogová Beata, Institute of Educology and Social Work Faculty of Arts University of Presov, Slovensko
Bazaga-Fernández Isabel, URJC, Spain
Bermejo Rut, University Rey Juan Carlos, España
Berner Heiko, Fachhochschule Salzburg, Austria
Bertotti Teresa, University of Trento, Italy
Betscher Silke, HAW Hamburg, Deutschland
Bracons Carneiro Hélia, Universidade Lusófona-Centro UNiversitário de Lisboa, Portugal
Csoba Judit, University of Debrecen, Hungary
Durowse Melanie, University of Dundee, United Kingdom
Erdős Márta, University of Pécs, Magyarország
Fargion Silvia, University of Trento, Italy
Fenton Jane, School of Humanities Social Science and Law University of Dundee, United Kingdom
Ferreira Jorge, Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal
Ferreira Paula, Lusófona University, Portugal
Gallo Peter, University of Presov Faculty of Arts Institute of educology and social work, Slovakia
Garstenauer Ulrike, Fachhochschule Salzburg, Austria
Granosic Mariusz, Fachhochschule Salzburg, Austria
Grigori Eva, UAS St. Pölten, Austria
Guerra Inês, Universidade Católica Portuguesa- Faculdade de Ciências Humanas, Portugal
Gulczyńska Anita, University of Łódź, Polska
Hefel Johanna M., FHV University of Applied Sciences Vorarlberg, Austria
Ingram Richard, University of Dundee, United Kingdom
Jarkiewicz Anna, University of Łódź, Poland
Kaminska-Jatczak Izabela, University of Lodz, Poland
Kantowicz Ewa Teresa, University of Korczak in Warsaw, Poland
Kaszyński Hubert, Jagiellonian Univesity, Poland
Kolbinger Martin Lu, Fachhochschule Salzburg, Austria
Lazăr Florin, University of Bucharest, Romania
Lazar Florin, University of Bucharest, Romania
Machado Idalina, Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto, Portugal
Mano Irine, Anglia Ruskin University, United Kingdom
Martins Sónia, ISSSP – Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto, Portugal
Mauri Diletta, Libera Università di Bolzano, Italia
Melo Sara, Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto, Portugal
Mendonça Vera, CETRAD – UTAD, Portugal
Molzbichler Daniela, University of Applied Sciences Salzburg, Austria
Muckenhuber Johanna, FH Joanneum Institute for Social Work, Austria
Muñoz Isabel, Instituto Politécnico Portalegre, Portugal
Nagem Rasha, Les militants des savoirs, France
Nothdurfter Urban, Free University of Bozen/Bolzano, Italy
Oliveira Ana Maria, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal
Oliveira Madalena Sofia, ISSSP, Portugal
Panagiotopoulos Christos, University of Nicosia, Cyprus
Pausch Markus, Fachhochschule Salzburg, Austria
Pentaris Panagiotis, Goldsmiths University of London, UK
Poklembova Zuzana, Institute of Educology and Social Work Faculty of Arts University of Prešov, Slovakia
Postigo Sierra José Luis, University Rey Juan Carlos, Spain
Rainer Heike, Fachhochschule Salzburg, Austria
Rein Angela, Institut Kinder- und Jugendhilfe Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit FHNW, Switzerland
Rosenlechner-Urbanek Doris, Fachhochschule Salzburg, Austria
Rurka Anna, Paris Nanterre University, France
Sacramento Octávio, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro; Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies (CETRAD-UTAD), Portugal
Schüll Elmar, Fachhochschule Salzburg, Austria
Sicora Alessandro, University of Trento, Italy
Skyba Michaela, Institute of Educology and Social Work Faculty of Arts University of Presov in Presov, Slovakia
Soitu Daniela, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania
Stuhlpfarrer Elena, FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences Institute of Social Work, Austria
Tikkanen Heikki, Department of Social Work Göteborg University, Sweden
Tirions Michel, Artesis Plantijn University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp, Belgium
Valduga Tatiane, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Portugal
Wallengren-Lynch Michael, Malmö University, Sweden
Yetkin Eren Yildirim, Catholic University of Applied Sciences Berlin, Germany
Young Kathryn, University of Dundee, Scotland
