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 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
