School of Sociology, Social Policy & Social Work

Please watch the India Video

The School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work is actively developing links with the universities from different countries, including Europe, India, China and the USA. The current student exchange programmes include the Intensive Programme (IP), funded by the European Union, and the programme with the Karve Institute of Social Services (KInSS) at the University of Pune in India.

Intensive Programme in Spain

The Intensive Programme is a ‘two weeks teaching programme’, funded by the European Union. This is an opportunity for all third year BA degree students in the Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, to meet with students and lecturers from all over Europe. This course provides a unique mix of lectures, tutorials and small group discussions, and research groups in relation to the issue of enduring and emerging inequalities within the  countries of the European Union. Students from Queen’s University will have the chance to meet lecturers and fellow students from countries such as Sweden, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Portugal, Finland, Belgium, and many other countries from Europe. Lecturers from prestigious teaching and research institutions such as Lund University, ERASMUS University Rotterdam and Free University Brussels will attend and discuss the issue of emerging inequalities in Europe from various theoretical and empirical angles. As well as being a unique teaching and learning experience, the course provides excellent opportunities for making contacts and networking with some of the best Universities in other European countries. These contacts might be useful both for your further studies, and for your future professional career.

The School offers four places for this course. All BA degree level 3 students in the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work (for Criminology students - only joint honours with Sociology and Social Policy) are eligible to apply. The costs for each participating student will be Euro 100 but you may apply to the School for financial assistance for this. The rest (flight, accommodation in a good quality hotel, lectures etc) will be covered by the EU grant. If you would like to apply for one of the places, or if you have further questions, please contact Dr Sirin Sung by email (s.sung@qub.ac.uk) or by phone (ext. 3469). This course will be held in Albir, Spain in February 2012. The title of course in 2012 - is Enduring and Emerging Inequalities: The integrational capacity of European labour markets and educational systems. The course in 2011 was held from the 12th to 26th of February in Albir, Spain. 
*The course is offered by the Intensive Course Network, part of the SOCRATES Programme of the European Union.

Queens’s Social work Students and Staff in India - picnic photo

Intensive Exchange Programme in India

The School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work has developed a link with the Karve Institute of Social Services (KInSS, affiliated with the University of Pune, India), with the aim of promoting the internationalisation of social work education and research in Northern Ireland.

In 2011, two lecturers of Social Work, Dr Chaitali Das and Dr Janet Carter Anand, together with three first year social work students, Lauren Donnelly, Naomi Ferguson, and Clair Doherty completed an intensive exchange program hosted by the Social Work facility of KinSS. Both Dr Das and Dr Anand have international experience as social work educators and were keen to promote the benefits of sustainable social work initiatives across borders.

The exchange programme received initial funding under the QUB’s Internationalisation Strategy and was supported by the school management board. “This Indian connection has become quite a talking point amongst students and staff in the School. The way Chaitali and Janet got it off the ground in such a remarkably short time shows just how much interest and energy there is for internationalisation amongst our staff and students” commented Professor John Pinkerton, who is responsible for promoting and coordinating internationalization in the School.

During their visit, students and staff explored  the  various roles and scope of social work in India through attending classes and visits to a range of  services . They experienced first hand the effects of globalization on absolute poverty, homelessness, unorganized labor, exploitation of women and the degradation of the environment in the Indian context. They also got an opportunity to observe Indian social work strategies such as community development and participation in civil society movements through people’s movements, governmental, non- governmental and multinational corporate organisations.

In their reflections on the visit, the students emphasized the practice relevance, the experiential learning and their discussion with fellow students.

“India was a fantastic opportunity to be a part of a cross cultural learning experience. I have already been able to put into practice some of  the learning I did out there. I would advise any student to get involved in a project such as this”

“ I was  constantly aware of my skin colour, my gender, my culture. That perhaps afforded me a brief glimpse of the experience of members of minority ethnic groups here in Northern Ireland.”

“It  gave us valuable insight into Indian students’  thoughts of social work in the West and social work as an international profession. I would highly recommend an international social work exchange to anyone”.

A presentation on the outcomes and experiences of the International Social Work Exchange Program was made at the SSPSW Seminar Series on 23rd February. Building on that a Colloquium on International Social Work Exchange is to be hosted by the SSPSW  in April involving delegates from NI, UK, Australia and Ireland. Then in October a delegation of students and faculty members from KInSS will be visiting Queen’s to undertake a similar exchange program hosted by the SSPSW staff and students.

Education

• Enrolment and Registration Sept 2013
• Information For Returning Students
• Undergraduates
• Postgraduate Taught Courses
• Student Support
• Student Consultative Committee
• Careers Employability and Skills
• Erasmus
• International Social Work
• Practice Learning
• Practice Development Days
• External Examiners