The MCI Department of Social Work recently participated actively in the ogsaFORUM 2026, which took place this year at the University of Applied Sciences Campus Wien. The forum of the Austrian Society for Social Work (ogsa) takes place every two years, alternating with a multi-day conference, and facilitates an intensive professional discourse over the course of a single day. The primary aim is to network with stakeholders from teaching, academia, and practice, to learn from one another, and to discuss current developments in the profession and discipline of Social Work in detail.
During the event, a wide range of topics was explored in several workshops by a variety of working groups, and field- and discipline-specific perspectives were applied to the diverse facets of contemporary Social Work. In the morning, the working groups’ activities were framed by a keynote address on the topic “Social Exclusion as a Critical Category of Analysis for Reflecting on Specialized Social Work” delivered by university professors Saskia Ehrhardt and Christoph Stoik. The speakers emphasized how important it is to critically reflect on one’s own self-understanding in Social Work practice in order to meet disciplinary and professional standards and to maintain a continuous perspective “beyond one’s own horizons.”
The MCI Department of Social Work was represented this year by Bastian Oechsle and Moritz Reisberger (both research & teaching assistants):
Bastian Oechsle is actively involved in the “Practice” working group of the ogsa. The workshop organized by this working group focused on the so-called “practice triad” in students’ professional internships - that is, the different roles of professionals, students, and instructors in the context of the internship phases of the degree program. There was extensive discussion, among other things, regarding the necessary requirements for practical instruction, possible recognition of professional activities toward degree requirements, and differences in the scope of internships at various Austrian universities of Social Work. The examination of these issues revealed that the further development of practical skills and practical learning phases continues to require close exchange and networking with representatives from the field and student representatives.
Moritz Reisberger, together with Katharina Auer-Voigtländer and Lukas Richter (both from USTP – University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten), led a workshop organized by the Research Working Group, focusing on national and international research funding and opportunities for inter-university research collaborations. The workshop centered on an engaging presentation by Birgit Bauer (USTP), who provided the interested audience with an overview of the research funding landscape in Austria. This was followed by a group discussion on the differences between funding programs and the attendees’ experiences with the specifics of the funding. As a result, the group was able to gather initial ideas for potential research projects and collaborations and engage in constructive, collegial discussion.
A spirit of goodwill and productive collaboration characterized not only the workshops but the entire day at the University of Applied Sciences Campus Wien. As a result, a positive overall atmosphere prevailed, even though current challenges in the context of today’s multiple crises were repeatedly brought up. In this context, the collective strength of all Social Work professionals in Austria becomes evident: Only together, through in-depth discussions, mutual openness, and a (self-)critical perspective, can societal challenges be addressed in an innovative, professional, and sustainable manner. The MCI Department of Social Work is an important partner in these discussions and remains happily engaged in the ogsa working groups and committees.
From left: Bastian Oechsle and Moritz Reisberger (MCI Department Social Work) at the ogsaFORUM 2026 in Vienna ©MCI
Discover the program that suits you.