Social Work: The Paths and Importance of Research

As part of the Master's in Social Work and Social Policy – Specialisation in Social Organisations Management, the workshop “Research in Postgraduate Training: Master's Pathways in Social Work” took place on 15th March at Universidade Lusófona - CUL, from 10:00 to 13:00.

Given the context of profound social transformations, where the knowledge cycle is very short and professional responses are increasingly demanding and challenging, this workshop aimed to highlight the importance of research for innovation in the field of Social Work. It emphasised methodologies and studies that illustrate the connection between academic research and professional practices in the management of social organisations.

The invited speakers, both current and former master's students, discussed their research topics and shared their experiences throughout their research journeys.

This event was an extremely important moment for students' learning and reflection on the relevance of research in their training process, as expressed in the testimonies of some attendees:

• “Listening to these testimonies helped me better understand my own journey. In fact, I realised certain aspects, such as the scope of methodology, which I hadn’t fully grasped until now. At the same time, while I feel I am capable, I also feel a little overwhelmed.”
• Another student mentioned, “Bringing together different experiences—some who have already defended their thesis, others who have finished and are waiting, and those still in their second year—was really valuable because it gave us a broader perspective. Also, the fact that everyone shared both the positive and negative aspects of their master's experience helped us prepare for what lies ahead. It's different hearing it from colleagues rather than from professors.”
• From these testimonies, we can conclude that the success of the workshop highlights and reinforces the importance of continuing these moments as essential spaces for debate in research and the development of reflective skills, both for researchers still in training and for professionals. It is also a privileged space for the deepening and dissemination of knowledge in Social Work.