July 15th 2014

New program director at the MCI

Belachew Gebrewold as new Program Director for Social Work at the MCI

The Entrepreneurial School® with a new Program Director for Social Work, Social Policy & Management – Strengthened solution competence, R&D and internationality


A more than ten-year success story

The Social Work Department, which runs a Bachelor in Social Work and a Master in Social Work, Social Policy & Management, has been a part of the success story at Management Center Innsbruck (MCI) for more than ten years now.

Established in 2003, the department is highly popular with students, much esteemed on the employment market and enjoys a high standing in social, scientific and political circles – at a time when professional social work and related solution competence are seen as social cement in a variety of fields:


MCI established as a clearing house for social questions

From 2003, the Department of Social Work was headed by Program Director Dr. Michael Klassen. He and his team did an excellent job of building up the department and were generally very successful. As the first head of department, he focussed on promoting a professional approach to social work, establishing the subject as a recognized scientific discipline, positioning the MCI as a clearing house and competence center for social questions, and producing fully qualified graduates for work in the above fields.

With Dr. Klassen’s recent move to the Rhine-Main University in Wiesbaden, it became necessary to recruit a successor as head of department and program director at the MCI.

New program director to continue the policy of international networking

A highly competent successor was finally found in the person of Dr. Belachew Gebrewold. After graduating in philosophy in Addis Ababa / Ethiopia, Belachew Gebrewold studied Theology, International Politics and Peace Studies in Hamburg and Innsbruck, obtaining a postdoctoral qualification in Political Science and International Relations in 2010. With his numerous scientific publications and projects, his proven expertise in the fields of migration and development and security policy, and his extensive international contacts, he is the right person to further develop the MCI’s successful study programs in Social Work at an international level.

Belachew Gebrewold has been an MCI faculty member since 2012, with teaching and research duties in the field of the welfare state, ethics, human rights, global governance and international organizations. In a multistage selection process, he was chosen by the appointment committee from more than twenty candidates.

Intensification of collaboration with stakeholders

For his future work, Dr. Gebrewold is placing a priority on intensified cooperation with other study programs, the MCI’s supporting bodies, civil society organizations at home and abroad, and the MCI’s many partner universities. “The objective of social work as a form of service to society can be best achieved where there is a continuous constructive exchange with stakeholders,” says the new Program Director. “We develop solutions, shape the future and assume responsibility for society and yet remain learners at the same time.”

The MCI would like to thank Michael Klassen for his excellent performance in building up the department and to wish his successor joy and success with his new responsibilities.




Pressekontakt und Rückfragen:
Mag. (FH) Ulrike Fuchs
Leiterin
Marketing & Communication
+43 512 2070-1510
ulrike.fuchs@mci.edu