Aila-Leena Matthies

The motivation, professional development and identity of social work students in four European countries

Four European Universities (University of Durham, UK; University of Jyväskylä, Finland; University of Ljubljana, Slovenia; and Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, Germany) have been collaborating on an EC-funded Erasmus Curriculum Development Project (2001–03) in order to enhance the European dimension in their programmes of social work education. As part of this co-operation, a comparative study of the student groups in each country has been undertaken. The aim of the study is to examine and analyse students’ beliefs about social work as a profession, as well as their personal motivations for training as social workers and their aspirations for their subsequent careers upon completion of their studies. A questionnaire was developed in order to gather data from all students at the outset of their university-based social work education in each of the four countries. In this article, the authors present and analyse findings from this questionnaire. In identifying and comparing the concerns of social work students from diverse cultural contexts at the beginning of their professional education, it is possible to identify some key themes within, and test the concept of, European social work.

The concept of subjectivisation by Adorno – applied in social work

This article focuses upon subjectivisation as one of the core aspects of critical theory. Subjectivisation refers to the process of becoming a subject, a fully responsible, autonomously thinking and acting adult citizen, as opposed to a manipulated and system-functioning object. It is discussed in the context of the current debates on critical reflection in social work, as it contributes to discovering the power structures in which social work is embedded. The aim is not to re-discuss critical theory as a whole, but to point out the process of subjectivisation of social workers and service users as an element for critical self-reflection in social work. The contribution includes a short introduction to the concept of subject and subjectivisation as treated by Adorno, after which a more generalised frame of core dimensions for social work between the ‘Real’ and the ‘Possible’ will be developed, applying the concepts of Adornos dialectic approach to critical theory and using them as a tool for critical reflection on social work. Three perspectives are also discussed in which critical reflection, connected with the aim of subjectivisation, is crucial for discovering and analysing contradictions: the dilemma of critical social work in the general institutional context of the new governance of today; social work education in two settings; and finally, the challenge posed for critical reflection and subjectivisation by the current changes in the Nordic model of the welfare state. My main conclusion is that the subjectivisation of citizens is not only their right or an indicator for progressive professionalism, but even a necessary pre-condition for a more just welfare policy.

The Otherness of social work under neoliberal governance

This special issue examines the topic of ‘understanding the Other’ from a very different perspective of ‘Otherness’, which advocates that the own Otherness of social work be reflected on as well. In the contexts of many current societies, social work itself increasingly appears as a strange element – an exceptional idea – as ‘the Other’. Moreover, a question raises over whether social work itself is understandable to those who are outside of it. In this paper, social work is distinguished at three institutional levels: as a science, as a profession and as an ideology or social movement. The paper aims at analysing how social work itself is put into the position of ‘the Other’ in the current era dominated by neoliberal dogmas, particularly by the ‘triumph of managerialism’. The process of Othering and the marginalisation of social work in its own fields have serious consequences for the identity of social work today. At the end of the paper I will try to demonstrate how social work can make itself more understandable in its various contexts of action: among other sciences and professions, in politics and in broader society – and particularly for service users and people in need. Referring to Habermas’ classic theory, I argue that the basis for opening the borders of Otherness is to recognise that differences exist between the functional system of social work and the life world (Lebenswelt) of citizens. At the same time, social work is tasked with maximising communication and dialogue between these systems.

Between science, practice and politics: practice research as a defining approach of social work research Zwischen Praxis, Wissenschaft und Politik: Praxisforschung als definitorischer Ansatz der sozialarbeiterischen Forschung

This paper reflects the growth in the field of social work research in Europe in the background of the new Masters degrees. The discussion in the paper is focussed on the question of what may be identified as a special character of social work research. The argumentation is built on the thesis that the special character of social work research is the focal point of practice and scientification, policy relevance and professionalism. It is at the same time committed to scientific quality, to the interest of social work practice—even though also criticising it—and to the extramural politics for a more just society. However, one cannot disregard reality, where the differentstake holders of social work research (academic, administrative, institutional, professional and service user levels) have different objectives and interests in social work research.

The ecosocial approach in social work as a framework for structural social work

The article aims to deepen the understanding of structural social work from the point of view of the ecosocial framework. It analyses selected current international literature from the debate on the new wave of various interpretations of ecological social work. The debate shares four main themes: (a) a global perspective, (b) a critical view of professional social work, (c) a holistic ecosocial transition of society and (d) environmental and ecological justice. The ecosocial framework challenges structural social work to follow the principles of sustainable development and considers environmental issues as a crucial part of the goals and practical activities of structural social work.

Towards research-oriented social work education in Europe

The last decade has brought with it an increasing level of co-operation amongst social work educators in Europe. Specifically, the ERASMUS Programme has provided a powerful vehicle for educators to share knowledge and experiences across different academic and societal contexts. However, we believe that the results of such rich endeavours could be better disseminated within the entire European academic and professional social work community. This special issue of the European Journal of Social Work represents an attempt to do this. The papers contained within this issue come from one part of a four year programme of cooperation between the Universities of Durham (UK), Jyväskylä (Finland), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Magdeburg (Germany). The overall aim of this programme has been to develop and promote research-oriented social work education across different academic institutions (for more details, go to www.european-social-work.net). As part of the overall programme, a European workshop was organised in April 2004 at the University of Applied Sciences in Magdeburg, with participants from 12 countries, including colleagues from four of the 10 countries which gained full entry into the EU on the 1 May 2004. Bringing colleagues together in this way proved to be a stimulating and inspiring experience, with a wide variety of important themes covered. Amongst the most significant were:

Internationalisation of social work doctoral studies: experiences and perspectives in the changing context of European higher education

ABSTRACT The internationalisation of doctoral education in social work has become a newly developing area particularly in Europe during the last two decades. It has been promoted by two factors: (1) the reform of higher education (Bologna reform), which contributed to the development of doctoral study and (2) the establishment of European funding programmes that would allow international cooperation and ensure the quality of the programmes. Also, in the European Qualification Framework the knowledge, skills and competences gained by doctoral qualification are defined. In this article, we analyse three international doctoral projects that were developed in Europe in last 10 years. We focus on what the advantages and obstacles are of these policy frameworks and what their impact on international cooperation is in the development of doctoral programmes. The analysis shows that differences in national terms and conditions of the study remain a major obstacle for joint doctoral programmes, but it is precisely international cooperation that significantly contributes to the quality of doctoral studies. The analysis also shows that the current policy framework of higher education in the EU does not solve the problems; on the contrary, it contributes to it.

Debating social work and otherness: introduction to the special issue

This issue came about as a result of a highly successful meeting of the PhD Summer School of the Nordic-Baltic Doctoral Network in Social Work that was held in Kokkola, Finland, in August 2011 and hosted by the University of Jyväskylä. The topic chosen by the organizing committee, headed by Aila-Leena Matthies, was the crucial, timely question of ‘Understanding the Other’ that is challenging societies, and in this context, challenging social work as a profession and as a research area. The Summer School opened with a series of invited presentations on various aspects of social work and othering. The remainder of the week, PhD students worked in small groups led by faculty facilitators affiliated with several Finnish universities. Most of the 30 students attended were, at the time, at the conceptual framing stage of their doctoral projects; each grounded in a specific practice and research arena. The group was very diverse. The exchanges were lively and led to meaningful questions about the national and local institutional contexts in which othering takes place and/or can be countered. The students’ feedback to the Summer School was very positive. On their part, the speakers and organizers felt that the presentations and debates had led to new insights. Importantly, the notions and arguments that were explored overlapped considerably among the participants, and there was a sense of shared synergy within an intellectual and emotional space open for a diversity of views. From the shared interests and the success of that week developed the idea to move the debate to a more public arena and propose a thematic issue to the Nordic Social Work Research journal. The aim was to expand upon the discussions that took place in Kokkola, and present various voices and views. That fall, Adrienne Chambon, one of the invited speakers, and Aila-Leena Matthies, the primary organizer of the Summer School, submitted such a proposal to the journal’s editorial board. We felt strongly, along with the editor of the journal, Tarja Pösö, that student voices should be present in such an issue. While temporarily occupying the status of doctoral students, young scholars are the upcoming figures in social work. Their perspectives reflect the changing and transformative nature of social work scholarship. We were aware that the students would not have completed their research by the time the articles were scheduled to go to press; however, the ‘work in progress’ idea that was central to the Summer School would be preserved and would enrich our scholarly discussions. As for the invited speakers, their presentations consisted primarily in conceptual frameworks meant to open up the discussion on othering and otherness. Therefore, the articles in this issue tend to be weighted towards the theoretical end of the spectrum, though they include references to empirical studies. These run the range from detailed case studies to reviews of larger surveys, analyses of documents, in-depth interviews, and narrative and discourse analyses. The typical length of the articles has been shortened in this issue to make space for multiple contributions.