Social Work Institute Marks World Social Work Day
Institute of Social Work celebrated World Social Work Day with a debate on social challenges, inequalities, and professional intervention
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
The Institute of Social Work marked World Social Work Day on 17 March, promoting an event focused on reflection, sharing of experiences, and celebration of the profession’s transformative role in contemporary society.
The session opened with a keynote panel featuring Professor Paula Ferreira, Director of the Institute of Social Work, Professor Maria da Conceição Soeiro, COFAC Administrator, and Dr. Joana Rodrigues, representing the Board of the Order of Social Workers, highlighting the importance of Social Work in addressing current social challenges.
The programme included two thematic panels. The first, moderated by Professor Jacqueline Marques, featured contributions from Professor Paulo Mendes Pinto and Professor Helena Belchior, who addressed the deep challenges of contemporary societies, highlighting persistent inequalities, processes of social polarisation, climate change, and the rise of populist discourse—factors that weaken bonds of solidarity and trust between individuals and communities.
The second panel, moderated by Professor Nélson Ramalho, offered a more applied perspective, focusing on concrete examples of social intervention. Contributions from Dr. Ana Matias and Dr. Cristina Rodrigues highlighted the role of Social Work in promoting social cohesion, supporting vulnerable populations, and facilitating integration processes, particularly in the fields of migration and disability.
The event concluded with a final reflection by Professor Hélia Bracons, who emphasised the importance of Social Work in building more just, inclusive, and supportive societies, reinforcing the ethical and professional commitment of social workers in the face of contemporary challenges.
This celebration was marked by great enthusiasm and a strong sense of purpose, bringing together 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year Social Work students, as well as professionals in the field, reaffirming Social Work as a vital discipline in promoting human dignity, social justice, and community cohesion.
