Amman- 2 October 2022
This year’s network meeting of the Social Work Department took place at HS Fulda, hosted by long term members of the network Dr. Eva Gerharz and Dr. Carola Bauschke-Urban and supported by the members of the Fulda Transfer Zentrum. Network speaker Prof. Dr. Sigrid James (University of Kassel) moderated the meeting and guided the event though the different agenda points. The event took place from 19th to 20th of September 2022. GJU`s Vice President for International Affairs, Prof. Dr. Reiner Finkeldey,joined the meeting together with the head of GJU´s Social Work department Dr. Badir Madi and exchange coordinator Prof. Dr. Christine Huth-Hildebrandt .The network coordinator Iris Wildfeuer from the International Affairs Department was also present.
Further present at the meeting was FH Würzburg-Schweinfurt, represented by GJU`s former vice president Prof. Dr. Ralf Roßkopf, as well as the NOHA network, represented by Communications and Administration Manager Mr. Will Wright. Doctorate candidate Daad Nazzal from GJU, as well as IAD employee and Outgoing Coordinator Dania Alsawalmeh joint the meeting as well and participated in the discussions.
After some welcoming words by the host representative Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Reinhard, Dean of SK HS Fulda and a by a brief introduction of all participants, the members of the Social Work department gave the network an update on department developments and strategies, such as the German accreditation, developments in the certificate program, student activities and department needs.
Following this Prof. Dr. Ralf Roßkopf (FHWS) gave an update on the BA Social Work as a hosted program in collaboration with FHWS. Prof. Dr Hildebrandt presented the updates in the Social Work Research Cluster to the network. Daad Nazzal, doctorate candidate at HS Fulda supervised by Dr. Bauschke-Urban presented her topic and progress, followed by a general discussion on joint thesis supervision.
On the second day of the meeting Prof. Dr. Reiner Finkeldey GJUs Vice President for International Affairs, started the meeting with some updates that GJU had undergone since 2021. Mr. Will Wright then presented the NOHA network, after which general discussions on topics such as extension of the network and new possible collaborations ensued.
The network members were further able to participate in an industry visit to the NGO “Welcome In”, and were able to get an insight into the history and activities of the “Wohnzimmer” a hub for interculturalism, tolerance and acceptance in Fulda. The meeting concluded with the agreement on various follow-up meetings for the different topics discussed and the determination of the format, date and place for the next network meeting in Social Work in 2023.