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International Association of Schools of Social Work

President’s Report (January to June, 2016) for Eighth Executive Committee and Board Meeting

Held at the Coex, Seoul, Republic of Korea Dear Colleagues, This is my last report in the 4 year term (2012-2016) of my journey as President of IASSW. It is my great pleasure to acquaint you with what I have achieved since 2012. I am proud to say that I have been successful in rallying together a strong board of globally committed office bearers, vice-presidents (presidents of their regional associations of social work education) and members who are passionate about translating the vision and mission of IASSW and give off their invaluable time regardless of their own local teaching, research and fieldwork supervision duties. Governance of IASSW has improved with regular half-yearly board meetings which are well attended and the action points are followed up through bi-monthly skype meetings with office bearers of IASSW and regular follow-up with the Board of Directors. With support of Solidarity Funds we ensure that our board members from developing countries participate in the board meetings. The committees and task forces are led by two chairpersons, either two voting board members or with one non-voting board member or an interested IASSW member. Thus all the board members are involved in leading the activities of the association. All decisions are taken democratically. Non-board members of IASSW are encouraged to get involved in the activities. Examples are the women’s interest group and the International Social Work Editorial Board at SAGE UK. I have initiated a Strategic Review of IASSW which will provide us future direction of how to become more effective in our vision and mission. We have already conducted two workshops so far and will be presenting the new vision and mission to the GA for their approval at Seoul in June, 2016. I have also strengthened IA’s relationship with United Nations organisations. IASSW has an active MoU with UNAIDS which led to a very successful WSWD programme in collaboration with the latter in March 2015. A joint book publication focusing on the theme of Zero Discrimination is being worked on and will be released in December 2016. Our collaboration with IFSW both in New York and Geneva is working well and we look forward to more joint WSWD programmes in future with IFSW and other international organisations. A new team of faculty from US schools volunteered and successfully collaborated with IFSW to celebrate WSWD 2016 at the UN in New York. We look forward to a more collegial working together with IFSW in New York. Lynne Healy the main representative of IASSW at

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the UN in New York has mobilised a new team of IA representatives who are attending UN meetings and continue to make a difference on policy and development issues. IASSW has also ensured that all its activities are conducted in consultation with the respective Regional Associations. Peer consultations for example in Sri Lanka and UAE had APASWE representatives in the team. The 2016 WSWD in Geneva was in collaboration with our EASSW Regional partner besides IFSW. NACASSW has conducted annual symposia at the CSWE APMs in the US in collaboration with IASSW. We look forward to working together and strengthening our relationship with our five Regional Associations around the globe. Visibility of IASSW has been enhanced with the IASSW website being improved to cater to the needs of the membership with a user-friendly, easy payment gateway, regular news and updates about the various committees as well as regional associations’ prgorammes, and highlights of UN based activities by our UN representatives. Resources and campaign statements on contemporary issues and happenings are uploaded regularly. I am able to send photographs for uploading while participating in the seminars, workshops and capacity building programmes in which I am invited as the keynote speaker which is almost each month in a different country. I have been able to send video messages and video lectures when I am unable to participate as for instance in Moldova and SWD at the UN in New York, 2016. The videos and information are also uploaded on our other sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Both institutional and individual membership has increased several folds. President’s office is very responsive by email to all requests as we have a very alert and continuously active and helpful Executive Officer based in our office at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai. Not having a permanent secretariat and the office shifting with the President has had its pros and cons but we have created an Archive Committee to protect and document our history based on our work over the years. Due to our use of technology we have backups of all our documents including our minutes and reports. I have started the process of creating annual reports that are circulated to all our members. I have continued to support IASSW as a transparent, ethical and accountable organisation always responsive to social justice and human rights issues. Our sustainability, climate change and disaster committee continues to be active at the UN in climate change and disaster risk reduction conferences and meetings. Similarly our Human Rights committee and Global Agenda committees are moving ahead with very relevant actions on current issues like the refugee crisis. The bi-ennial world conferences are woven around the themes of the Global Agenda thanks to the cooperation of our three international organisations on social work education, social work practice and social development. They have been effective fora for sharing of research, curricula and practice and for networking. I have been very active in the tripartite meetings and ensured that IASSW continues to be active and visible in its contribution to development of social work education especially in countries where social work as a profession is newly introduced.

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There is a lot more that I could report to you which have already been communicated through our 13 issues of the Social Dialogue online magazine and the News and Views in the International Social Work Journal published by SAGE UK. I look forward to your continued enthusiasm and cooperation in our activities. The Report Seventh Executive Committee and Board Meeting The Seventh Executive Committee and Board meetings were held at School of Social and Public Administration East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China in January 13-16, 2016. This meeting was unusual as the second brainstorming session on strategic review of IASSW was conducted in a one day workshop with the board of directors. It was attended by eighteen board members. Helle joined via Skype for discussion related to the elections.

Figure 1: IASSW Board of Directors at Shanghai-Jan, 2016

The board meeting was followed by a mini conference on “Specialization Training of International and Domestic Oriented Medical Social Work and Mental Health Social Work on January 17, 2016. Board members, social work faculty and practitioners made presentations to more than 100 participants from different parts of China. I thank Professor Xu, his faculty and student team for the excellent arrangements.

Figure 2, 3: Mini conference organized at Shanghai-Jan 2016

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Preparation of SWSD 2016 President with the help of office bearers and EO is actively involved in preparations related to SWSD 2016. Vasilios represented IASSW on the scholarships committee. The Local Organising Committee has been very prompt in providing all kinds of information, invitation letters, logistics and other arrangements. As per agreement they have provided travel and stay for the President and one officer during the conference days. We are fortunate to have two special plenaries with presentations form our Awardees namely Abye Tasse and Mark Henrickson. President thanks In Young Han, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee and Prof. Cha and their team for their cooperation. PARTICIPATION IN CONFERENCES/ WORKSHOPS INTERNATIONAL 6th MSW Conference, Beijing, China President attended the three-day 6th MSW Conference on “Children, Youth and Family in the Transition: Challenges to Social Work Education” from March 11- 13 March 201 in Peking University, organized by Peking University -The Hong Kong Polytechnic University China Social Work Research Centre [PKU Centre], along with MSW Teaching Guidance Committee, The Ministry of Education, China and China Association of Social Work Education, APASWE. It was supported by the Si Yuan and ZeShan Foundations.

She made a presentation on “Pre-eminence of Family vs the Diversity of Family Forms: The challenges to Social Work Education” in which she focused on a generic global overview of the family; emerging diversities and challenges to social work education with new theories and interventions based on new structures. She also focused on the beliefs in society and the attitudes against a change in family structure and stressed the importance of the social work role in dealing with stigma arising from these changes. During the plenaries, a variety of topics related to family, children and youth were covered in excellent presentations made by faculty from China, Taiwan and Indonesia.

The conference was also the occasion for presentations of the 4th Lam Woo Distinguished Social Work Awards for innovative projects and scholarship to social work faculty, practitioners and students. Prof. Angie Yuen was one of the awardees.

Figure 4: Prof. Vimla Nadkarni making her presentation at the plenary session

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The memorable event was the launching of the first IASSW Regional Resource Centre in

the China Social Work Research Centre, a collaboration between Peking and Hong Kong

Polytechnic Universities.

WSWD 2016-Geneva

President Vimla Nadkarni and Nino Zganec, President EASSW were members of the

coordinating team led by Klaus Kuhne, UN representative in Geneva of IFSW that organised

WSWD at the UN in Geneva on March 15, 2016. At the local level, the logistics were

supported by Priska Fleischlin (IFSW representative at the UN), Anne Lavanchy, Laura

Nicollin and the students of HES-SO University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland.

This year’s theme was on Refugees and Displaced Persons: The Role of Social Work“.

President gave the welcome at the Inaugural along with Prof. Joel Libois of HES-SO and

Klaus Kuhne.

Resource persons from UNICEF, UNHCR, ILO, International Red Cross and faculty of social

work made presentations and chaired the sessions. It was decided that a Common Policy

and Action Statement will be developed with inputs from the participants and integration

Figure 5: Launch of first Regional Resource Centre at Beijing in March 2016

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of feedback from the SWD and WSWD celebrations in New York, Brussels and Vienna

respectively.

Figure 6:From left, Monika Brulhart, UNCHR, Jean Claude Legrand, IASSW President, Natia Partskhaladze, UNICEF, and Klaus Kuhne, IFSW at the WSWD 2016 at the UN Geneva

IASSW also supported the IFSW statement on Responding to the Refugee Crisis which was

posted on our website.

Figure 7: Nino Zganec was moderating the panel

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Social Work Day at the UN in New York 2016 The 33rd Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations was held on April 4, 2016. This was a collaborative effort between IFSW and IASSW. The theme of this year’s event was Refugees and Displaced Persons: Ensuring Dignity and Worth. This topic was chosen to parallel the Global Agenda theme. There were approximately 750 participants including educators, students, practitioners and UN personnel and dignitaries. Participants hailed mainly from the US. There were participants also from other countries like Canada, Thailand, Italy, Myanmar, Afghanistan, India, the United Kingdom, China, Central America and the Caribbean. Speakers included Ms. Ninette Kelly, Director, New York Office UN Office of the High Commission on Refugees; His Excellency Deputy Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ambassador Nazifullah Salarzai; Dr. Guglielmo Schinna, International Organization for Migration, Head, Mental Health, Psychosocial Response & Intercultural Communications Global and Patricia Talisse, a Syrian refugee from Aleppo who is a graduate student at Fordham University. Senior Policy Advisor, Andrew Painter, filled in for Ninette Kelly during the Question and Answer period. A video greeting from Dr. Vimla Nadkarni, President of IASSW opened the event and Dr. Ruth Stark, President of IFSW, presented closing remarks.

President thanks Dr. Shirley Gatenio Gabel, Professor at the Fordham University School of Social Service representing IASSW, for co-chairing the event and planning committee along with Dr. Robin Sakina Mama, Dean of the School of Social Work at Monmouth University, West Long Branch, New Jersey representing IFSW; as well as IASSW representatives for SWD at the UN NY Carol Cohen and Martha Bragin for supporting the event. Other IASSW board members who participated were Lynne, Darla and Dixon.

Figure 8: Video message of IASSW President was shown at UN NY on WSWD-2016

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Consultative workshop on Social Work Education, Bhutan The stakeholder’s consultative workshop on social work education was conducted jointly by the Royal University Bhutan and UNICEF in the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Royal University of Bhutan from 12th to 13th April, 2016. To lead the workshop and to get the international perspective on social work education and practices, President IASSW was invited as the resource person for the workshop. The main objective of conducting this workshop was to explore the possibility of starting structured programmes on social work education under the Royal University of Bhutan. The participants for the workshop were from various Government Organizations, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Educational Institutions and UN organisations. In particular, there were nine participants from various colleges of the Royal University of Bhutan, nineteen participants from CSOs, eight participants from government organizations, and three from UN organisations. Prof. Nadkarni presented a paper on What is Social Work and Status of Social Work Education in the region. A task group has been formed to take the actions forward. President was in touch with Prof Tatsuru, Immediate Past President of APASWE regarding his research on Buddhist Social Work and its feasibility in Bhutan. Bhutan is introducing an MA degree in Buddhist Psychology.

Figure 9: Photo shows a panel discussion of CSOs International Conference on Nurturing University Community Engagement: Integration, Innovation and Impact, Kathmandu, Nepal This conference was organized by Nepal School of Social Work (NSSW) (Kadambari Memorial College of Science and Management & Nepal College of Development Studies) and co-hosted by Asia-Pacific University Community Engagement Network (APUCEN) from April 25-27, 2016. President gave the keynote address on Social Work Education: Model for University-Community Engagement in which she shared how social work is founded on community practice and engagement with communities. Social work education could provide

Figure 10: President with delegates at Bhutan

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leadership to university systems to adopt social work methods and create a partnership for people-centred development. Carolyn Noble, also a keynote speaker made a very inspiring presentation on the theory and practice of comunity-university engagement using social work concepts. The conference was significant as it was organised on the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake that severed the lives of several hundreds of people in Nepal. Lamps were lit in memory of those who lost their lives. Social work faculty from Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand, Australia, India and Nepal made presentations. International and national NGOs also participated. Visits to the earthquake affected areas were organised. The Nepal School of Social Work is committed to continue their work in the aftermath of the earthquake with support of their faculty and students. I thank the CEO of NSSW Pradipta and Founding Director Bala Raju for involving IASSW in the conference.

Figure 11: President delivered her keynote address to the international conference organised by the Nepal School of Social Work (NSSW)

Social Dialogue –Volume 13 The 13

th volume of Social Dialogue Online Magazine was launched on April 7, 2016 on the

theme of “International Social Work Research”. I thank the Guest Editors of this volume Dr.

Linda De Chenu and Dr. Brian Littlechild who have succeeded in producing an interesting issue

with the support of our Chief Editor Carolyn. Despite our cynicism, it is on the initiative and persistence of Angie that we have succeeded in

publishing and showcasing the magazine online. The fact that it has started generating some

revenue through advertisements demonstrates its popularity. We should be soon ready to publish

it in a few of our official languages! I want to place on record the contribution of each and every one of you board members (including the outgoing ones) who made my four years with IASSW a very satisfying experience. I would like to specifically mention my former Treasurer Julia Watkins and Immediate Past President Angie for gracefully orienting me and supporting me throughout this journey. Some others who are not here with us and whom I owe a lot for their

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guidance are Abye, Tatsuru, Vishanthie and Sue Lawrence. Thank you, Mark and Tetyana for all your timely support. Thank you Rashmi for providing your unstinted hard work and commitment to IASSW. IASSW has seen positive growth because of the dedication of each of you to the vision and mission of our association. I wish the new Board and Executive Committee all the best and am confident that IASSW will continue to bloom and grow and strengthen social work education through which we touch the lives of the poor and disadvantaged around the world and join with the people and partners in solidarity for social justice, equality and human rights. Your suggestions and feedback are always welcome.

Professor Vimla V. Nadkarni, Ph.D. President, International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) vimla@iassw-aiets.org