Today’s world is shaped by various crises, such as global pandemics, forced migration, democratic backsliding, and ecological problems. These challenges are no longer rare disruptions, but rather the environment in which many people now live. In this landscape, social workers are often the first to respond, but are they equipped not just to support but to lead change?
A recent webinar from the SISWEC project, which took place on 27 March, explored how social work education can rise to meet this challenge. It began with a clear message: social work must evolve. Many current training programmes focus on helping individuals cope, but personal crises are often rooted in collective ones. Poverty, displacement, and inequality are rarely isolated experiences; they are structural, widespread, and deeply interconnected. Research into social work curricula by the University of Bozen-Bolzano across Europe showed that while topics like COVID-19, poverty, and migration are often included, far less attention is given to crises of democracy, climate change, or collective trauma. These gaps leave social workers underprepared to tackle the systemic dimensions underlying daily issues.
Social work education, therefore, needs to focus more on collective crisis management. Training should go beyond the individual case and teach future professionals to recognise and respond to societal forces. There is a growing need for programmes that are flexible, adaptable, and able to respond to emerging social challenges. One proposed solution by the University of Bozen-Bolzano was the introduction of targeted, certificate-based training that can quickly upskill practitioners in high-need areas.
Thematic areas for strengthening social work
Forced migration, for example, presents complex and immediate challenges. Social workers are involved from the first point of contact, addressing basic needs, navigating cultural integration, and supporting trauma recovery. To do this well, they need strong intercultural communication skills, trauma-informed approaches, and a deep understanding of human rights frameworks.
Social work plays a preventative role in other areas, especially regarding radicalisation. Here, practitioners build protective environments around vulnerable individuals, offering community-based alternatives and fostering a sense of purpose, inclusion, and belonging. This approach addresses the social conditions that push people toward extremism and the emotional pull that draws them in.
During the webinar, the relationship between social work and democracy also emerged as a key theme. True democracy is not only about elections; it’s about ensuring every voice can be heard. Social workers help uphold this by empowering marginalised groups, encouraging participation, and creating safe dialogue and civic engagement spaces.
Collaboration was another recurring thread, particularly across disciplines, as addressing crises requires more than one profession. It demands shared knowledge, strategies, and responsibility.
The insights from the webinar showed that social workers are not only there to respond to crises but can also help prevent them by addressing the root causes. To do this, they need training beyond individual support and preparing them to understand and respond to wider social challenges.
By updating education, encouraging collaboration, and focusing on structural issues, we can better prepare social workers to create lasting, positive change.
