According to the definition of the International Association of Schools of Social Work and the International Federation of Social Work (2001) the social work profession promotes social change, problem-solving in human relationships, and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.
Social Work is an applied social science with main objectives to prevent and tackle social problems, improve human well being and foster social change. Human rights protection and promotion of social justice constitute the profession's core values and principles. As social work focuses on individuals in the context of their physical and social environment, its approach is integrated and interdisciplinary. Studies in the Department of Social Work are focused on theoretical education of its students, agency-based social work practice and knowledge-building through research. More specifically the mission of the Department is: a) To provide social work education in social work within a rapidly changing society, through broad dissemination of state-of-the-art theoretical knowledge, practice experience and skills and b) To promote and support research contributing to the advancement of the profession and the developmental process of the country.
This mission is achieved through a study program synthesizing theory and practice. The core modules of the curriculum include the following subject areas: theory-methodology-ethics in generalist social work, social policy, organization and administration of social services, sociological and psychological theories of human development and behavior, qualitative and quantitative methods of social research. Field practice constitutes an integral part of the curriculum and represents a significant part of the educational experience. It is designed to provide a generalist perspective of social work practice through a wide range of field assignments in a network of agencies carefully developed to provide appropriate placements and to ensure a level of support that maximizes the learning experience.
At the core of the Department's mission is a commitment to education for micro and macro practice methods which focus on the strengths of individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations. This commitment includes helping students develop professional values and ethics, judgment and skills that equip them for life-long critical analysis of their practice, of social welfare policies and services and society's social, economic and political structures. Graduates are prepared to respect human rights, to value human diversity, to work against oppression and discrimination, and to prevent and alleviate the effects of violence and poverty. Also it is fundamental for the Department to build-up stronger ties with the local communities and to contribute to the improvement of social services by disseminating its knowledge and experience.
