VNU-USSH International Conference on “Social Work Without Barriers” Attracts Experts from 22 Countries

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Principal of the school emphasized: With the mission of pioneering in training and researching Social Work in Vietnam, the school pays special attention to developing research in the field of social work. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU has strengthened international cooperation in this field to enhance the training of high-quality human resources for the social work sector, contributing to creating a sustainable social development.
Grasping the necessity of society in terms of social work needs, the Faculty of Sociology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, in collaboration with partners, organized an international conference with the theme “Making a difference – Barrier-free social work: towards sustainable development and emergency response”. Here, experts will explore different aspects of barrier-free social work in the context of adapting to sustainable development and responding to emergency situations.
The conference attracted the participation of 150 Vietnamese scholars and more than 90 scholars from 22 countries around the world such as: China, Italy, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Israel, Laos, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, United Kingdom, India, Albania, Uganda, Bangladeshi, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Egypt, Zambia, Somali, Korea.
The conference also received 50 full-text papers, including 28 papers from international scholars and 22 papers from Vietnamese scholars. The papers focused on a variety of topics, from social work training and development according to sustainable development goals, regional development cooperation activities; to implications for social work service management and practice in a high-risk society.
Focus on social work towards sustainable development
Social work has developed strongly and affirmed its indispensable role in the sustainable development goals of many countries in the world over the past 100 years. In Vietnam, although it has just taken the first steps in the professionalization process, Social Work has been affirming its role in assisting individuals, families, and communities in need, aiming to ensure comprehensive social security for all people according to the consistent goals of the Party and State of Vietnam.
In recent years, the world has undergone great changes, in which climate change and the Covid 19 pandemic have created a “New Normal” for individuals, groups, communities, countries and the world. These difficult problems are requiring a new vision and global cooperation to solve common problems and specific difficulties.
With its important role, social work needs to make movements to keep up with, to orient and create sustainable development from the individual level to the global level, through solving micro to macro problems of people. In that context, sharing experiences and learning from each other is very important, in which it is necessary to mention the "Hanoi Declaration on Promoting Social Work" towards a cohesive and proactively adaptive ASEAN Community adopted at the 37th ASEAN Summit and Vietnam is the host country and actively participates in coordinating the implementation of the Declaration. Mr. Nguyen Van Hoi - Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said that social work has affirmed its role and strong development in Vietnam and the world. Vietnam recognizes that this work plays a very important role towards social security and sustainable development. The Deputy Minister welcomed the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU for organizing this meaningful workshop to address many challenges that society is facing such as: relationships between people, mental health care for children, people with disabilities, social security, the elderly, poverty, social evils and many other social issues.
He emphasized that Vietnam has a great need for social work, millions of people are facing difficulties and need care, while resources for activities in this field are still limited. Therefore, through the workshop, domestic and foreign experts and scientists will come up with practical solutions such as contributing to raising new awareness about social work, strengthening international cooperation, contributing to assessing the current situation and reality of training in this field in Vietnam.
He clearly stated the current situation and needs of Vietnam in social work and the network of schools training in social work. In the coming time, focus on organizing many programs related to mental health care, clarifying social work in the field of war invalids and social affairs, child protection, etc. Coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to improve the quality of social work staff, teaching at universities, promoting communication and international cooperation. Focus on discussing and sharing new perceptions of social work internationally, solving epidemic response, climate change. Evaluate the training work in this field and develop training in the field of social work and solutions. Propose to improve legal policies for development, training methods close to reality so that in the next 5 years this field will be on par with the international level. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong - Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, commented: After 15 years of implementing the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the UN Summit on Sustainable Development adopted the document "Transforming our world: Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development" with 17 goals and 169 targets for global sustainable development (SDGs). The commitment of 189 countries, including Vietnam, participating in this document has shown a high consensus towards the goal of sustainable development, ensuring comprehensive human well-being in the context of facing environmental disasters and economic and social inequality. In the journey towards the goal of sustainable development of humanity, social work has a pioneering role - both leading, orienting and preventing risks in the development process, not only at the macro level such as country, region, organization but also at the micro level with each family and each individual.In recent years, geopolitical conflicts, climate change and the Covid 19 pandemic have redefined our thinking and actions in many aspects of economic, psychological and social life. This poses new demands on leadership and implementation, emphasizing global cooperation to solve common problems and specific difficulties. In the context of VUCA, sharing experiences and learning from each other is very important. It is the first step to create trust, thereby moving towards comprehensive and sustainable cooperation in the future.
Reviews from international experts
Representing Hong Kong Polytechnic University (China), Prof. Eric CHUI - Dean of the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences added that this workshop will initiate in-depth cooperation between Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, which will partly provide solutions to solve urgent social problems in Vietnam. Here, experts in the field of social work will work together to build a social work care network, contributing to helping the disadvantaged in society solve their difficult problems.
President of the International Association of Schools of Social Work, Prof. Annamaria Campanini, emphasized that it is necessary to work closely together to effectively meet the needs of society such as education and employment, and to renew and change training programs to create cadres who can meet global needs. Through this workshop, we will see what needs Vietnam is facing, from which experts will develop plans and advise on promoting immediate issues to have a good foundation, creating fairness and harmony for all areas of Vietnam.
The international scientific conference with the theme “Making a difference – Social work without barriers: Towards sustainable development and responding to emergencies” included 4 plenary sessions and 12 parallel sessions, focusing on the following contents:
- Social work training with sustainable development from a borderless and multidisciplinary perspective (General session);
- From Responsive to Proactive: Developing Social Work Curriculum to Orient Students to a Changing World (Plenary Session 01)
- Regional cooperation and development (Plenary session 02);
- Managing change in a high-risk society: Implications for social work service management and practice (Plenary session 03);
- Looking to the Future/The Road Ahead: Perspectives and Lessons from ASEAN Countries
- Global Standards for Social Work Education: Guidance for Local and Regional Implementation/or Social Work Curriculum Design: Community Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development (Session 1A);
- Social Work Curriculum Design: Community Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development (Session 1B);
- Social Development/Social Welfare in the World (Session 1C)
- Social issues and the role of social work (Session 1D)
- Action Research in Social Work (Session 2A)
- Social Work and Sustainable Development/Climate Change and Its Impact on Vulnerable Groups (Session 2B)
- Curriculum Social Work with Children and Families/Health Care/Disability/Fieldwork and Social Work Practice: Issues and Challenges (Session 2C)
- Social work with the elderly and in the school environment: Current status and social work interventions (Session 2D)
- Psychosocial support in changing contexts: implications for social work practice and training (Session 3A)
- Enhancing social work service capacity to respond to at-risk communities (Session 3B)
- Regional cooperation: Experiences and lessons from research and practice (Session 3C)
- Cooperation between international non-governmental organizations and international organizations in supporting ASEAN countries in social work (Session 3D).

INFORMATION ABOUT SOCIOLOGY
Faculty of Sociology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU was established in 1991 (with the name: Faculty of Sociology and Psychology). In 1997, the Faculty of Sociology was separated into an independent unit. After more than 30 years of construction and development, the Faculty of Sociology has become a leading unit in the country and has a high reputation internationally in training, researching Sociology, Social Work and many related fields.
Currently, the Faculty is the only unit in the country that trains Social Work at all three levels: bachelor, master, and doctorate. In its development mission, the Faculty has trained a team of social work teachers and researchers for training and research institutions across the country.
Some outstanding images at the Workshop:
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Press coverage of the event:
Education and Times Newspaper:Barrier-free social work towards sustainable development
People's Livelihood (Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs):Need to create difference and no barriers in social work
People's Newspaper: "Barrier-free" social work towards sustainable development
Vietnam National University, Hanoi: Barrier-free social work: Towards sustainable development and emergency response
Dan Tri Newspaper: Social work promotes sustainable development goals
Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology: Social work towards sustainable development