Opening of the International Summer University to Facilitate Students’ Dialogue of Online Social Work

On the afternoon of July 12, the opening ceremony of 2021 International Summer University in Social Work (ISUSW) was held in Lecture Hall 1521, Zhixin building. This International Summer University is attended by teachers and students from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, University of California Los Angeles, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Western Sydney University, Shandong University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Tunghai University.

Liu Senlin, Dean and Professor of School of Philosophy and Social Development, Shandong University; Prof. Wang Huaping, Associate Dean for Academic and Internation Exchange; Prof. Chen Jian, Associate Dean for Post-graduate Program; and Prof. Cheng Shengli, Associate Dean for BA program attended the opening ceremony. Dr. SophieTapparel, General Secretary of the ISUSW Consortium, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerl; Prof. Jean-François Bickel, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland; Professor Binoy Joseph, President of the ISUSW Consortium and Principal of Rajagiri College of Social Sciences; Prof. Kiran Thampi, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences; Prof. Mona Khoury-Kassabri, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Prof. Steven Sek Yum Ngai, Chinese University of Hong Kong; Prof. Hong-Jae Park, Western Sydney University; Prof Gao Jianguo, SDU; Prof Wang Duu-Chiang, Tunghai University attended the opening ceremony as members and partners of the Consortium. Also present at the opening ceremony were student representatives of the ISUSW.

First of all, Professor Liu Senlin gave a brief introduction to the history and achievements of the University, School and social work program in his opening speech. Since its establishment in 2000, the Department of social work of Shandong University had made significant progress in teaching, research, and practice. This is inseparable from the close communication and cooperation with the international partners. He also hoped to take the 12th ISUSW as an opportunity to work together with experts, scholars, and students at home and abroad to contribute wisdom and strength to the development of international social work.

Professor Gao Jianguo introduced the theme of ISUSW and the participation of Shandong University. He expressed sincere thanks to the professors and students of the partner Universities.

Dr. Sophie Tapparel explained the specific contents of the ISUSW for the students. She encouraged the students to think actively, cooperate and innovate, meet the challenges in the two weeks, and improve and harvest friendship in the process.

Dr. Binoy Joseph said that ISUSW had become a part of students' summer study and life. In face of time differences and challenges brought by online teaching, all teachers and students will put in more effort and energy. This international course can make students see the greater power of international social work, and access more opportunities to learn social work in different places.

Subsequently, the Consortium members and partners, Professors Mona Khoury kassabri, Kiran thampi, Steven SEK Yum Ngai, Hong Jae Park, and Wangduu Chiang delivered speeches. Professor Steven SEK Yum Ngai expressed his gratitude to all the organizing staff for their hard work. He hoped that Participants could learn from each other through the online classroom during the epidemic period and collide with scholars from different cultural backgrounds. Professor Wang duu Chiang said that teachers and students would share their work experience and explore the possibility of intervention in the course of working in this ISUSW. He also expressed his gratitude to the ISUSW project and Shandong University.

The speeches of the guests made students more intensely feel the intense learning atmosphere, colorful curriculum system, and rich cultural experience of ISUSW. At the opening ceremony, ISUSW guests join the Team conference room to fully communicate with online and offline participants at SDU in the way of the rear projection screen in the main venue.

The theme of 2021 ISUSW is “online social work”. The activities include lectures, workshops, student presentations, cultural visits, etc. 12 Professors and workshop moderators came to attend teaching activites. There are 35 students who are in their masters and doctoral program study. The ISUSW provides students from different countries, regions and cultural backgrounds to exchange ideas and collide with each other. It also provides an effective platform for students to develop their talents, increase knowledge, enhance friendship and keep growing. It is conducive to cultivating high-quality social work talents with humanistic quality, professional skills, and global vision. It is of great significance to promote the exchange and integration of Chinese and international students.

By Ji Junting, MA student of Department of social

work at SDU Updated: Thu July 15, 2021