This seminar is designed to prepare students who will study and work abroad in the field of social work. Part 1 Theory: During the first session of the seminar, we are going to look into the debate of global and local aspects of international social work. Secondly, we discuss how decolonization can be included in social work and how cross-cultural social work based on the concept of intersectional identities can be defined. Thirdly, Geert Hofstede’s evidence-based dimensions of culture (power distance, individualism versus collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity versus femininity, long-term orientation, indulgence versus restraint) will be introduced. Fourthly, the term of intercultural competence will be reviewed critically (by a guest lecturer). In the last theoretical session, we discuss the implications of global inequality for social work.
Part 2 Practice: As part of intercultural communication, Hofstede's dimensions of culture, different indices (e.g., human development index; high, middle and low-income countries) as well as different concepts of child-rearing and concepts of illness and healing (including cultural beliefs and values) will be discussed for different countries. We are going to reflect our own privileges and implicit values and behaviors aiming to becoming aware of the issue of racism. The seminar ends with a security briefing and discussion of how to handle difficult situations abroad (e.g., situations of harm and violence, sickness, loneliness).
Languages: Literature will be in English. The seminar can be held in English and German.