Global Exchange at the MCI Department of Social Work

A delegation from Tanzania, along with field visits and a symposium, fostered international exchange in research, teaching, and student studies

The department of Social Work recently hosted a delegation from the Institute of Social Work in Tanzania, represented by Zena Mnasi Mabeyo, William Manyama, Deman Yusuf, Peter Mgawe, and Joyce Elzear Nyoni. The exchange took place as part of the “Social Work and Sustainable Development” project and served to strengthen cooperation and disseminate the project’s findings.

Together, we visited several social service organizations in Innsbruck. At “kontakt&co,” we gained insights into the training of multipliers in Social Work and education on addiction and life-coping issues. At the women’s emergency shelter “NoRa” of the Tiroler Soziale Dienste, we were warmly welcomed and introduced to the residential program specifically designed for women experiencing homelessness. We also visited the association “Mannsbilder,” which focuses on counseling for men and boys, including in the areas of violence prevention, relationships, and mental health. At the ISD Herberge and nursing unit, the municipal accommodation and support services for people experiencing acute homelessness were presented, with a focus on basic care, counseling, and health care.

The week concluded with a joint symposium with master’s students from the MCI elective “Social Work and the Sustainable Development Goals,” featuring student presentations and a panel discussion on the topic “Social Work and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Multi-Level and Global Perspective” with Professor Antoinette Lombard, head of the department of Social Work and Criminology at the University of Pretoria.

Laura Feith González: “International collaborations like these enrich the department of Social Work in a special way. Exchanging ideas with colleagues from different countries - especially those with perspectives on Social Work in the Global South - opens up new professional perspectives and provides valuable inspiration for research and teaching. It is a great pleasure to incorporate these insights directly into our courses so that our students can benefit from current international developments and expand their skills for Social Work in an increasingly globally interconnected society.”