The Department of Social Policy and Social Work at the University of Malta organised and hosted a Spring School of Social Work for the Department of Social Work from Rhein Main University of Applied Sciences. The Spring School took place between the 8 - 11 May 2023.
Fifteen students, together with four academic members of staff from the Department of Social Work at Rhein Main University of Applied Sciences travelled to Malta for the Spring School. The programme had academic and practice dimensions.
Furthermore, other students from the Department of Social Work at Rhein Main virtually joined the academic programme that covered the following topics that were delivered by lecturers and guests of the Department of Social Policy and Social Work at the University of Malta: supervision, spirituality, leadership and ethics in social work. Other lectures included: NGO governance; project management; market issues in welfare and citizenship and social work.
In the afternoon, the Rhein Main contingent were introduced to social work service provision in a number of main social work services. They visited the following social work agencies: the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS), Fondazzjoni Sebh, the Jesuit Refugee Services and Caritas Malta.
Opportunities for further collaboration between the Departments were discussed beginning with signing an Erasmus agreement. Moreover, students from the Master of Social Work (UM) and representatives from SHS (Studenti Harsien Socjali) joined the students and academic team from Rhein Main over lunch where they shared their experiences.
Following their departure, the academic team had words of praise for their first Spring School of Social Work outside Germany: 'It is very rare to find such excellent coordination and cooperation so I am very thankful for your outstanding support. The students, the team and I had an amazing and a great time at University of Malta, at the praxis locations and in the area of the three cities. The students asked me to send you their heartfelt thanks for your exceptional and passionate work in compiling lectures and praxis visits which fit their study interests perfectly, a notion which I support thoroughly. As a Department, we are glad to have had this excellent opportunity and plan to strengthen our collaboration with the Department of Social Work at Rhein Main University of Applied Sciences.'
- Dr Claudia Psaila, Academic Erasmus Co-Ordinator, Social Work Department of Social Policy & Social Work.