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Voter engagement, child welfare workforce diversity, and the role of social work in higher education. These are just a few of the highlights from our faculty and student presentations from CSWE APM 2024! Read more about our sponsorship and presentations here: https://lnkd.in/gVf_KC4w

Can We Teach the Secret to a Fulfilling Life? 🌟 Happiness or societal welfare—why not both? At Sparkasse Kaiserslautern’s Pedagogical Day, Daniel Schunk of Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz made the case for self-regulation as the future’s essential skill. From staying focused in a distracted world to managing emotions, this teachable ability could redefine how we prepare the next generation for life’s challenges. Schunk’s evidence-based methods are already making waves in schools. More here: https://lnkd.in/eYYZAJMr #openMinds #connectedScience

Our Project Lead Marianne Sandvad Ulriksen is doing a series of throwbacks! 😎Read the first one below👇 🌍 HUMBLE BEGINNINGS: Mutual Learning rather than Best Practice The end of 2024 marks the closing of the JUST SOCIETY project that I have been leading for the past four years. In the coming weeks, I will look back at the project and our achievements in a series of posts. In 2019, I was given a brief proposal and asked if I would lead the proposed project. The idea was to develop a course for students somewhere in the ‘developing world’ to promote knowledge about and solutions to building just institutions. Exact details were few, but Denmark’s leading position in rule of law and welfare provisions was a clear starting point, also supported by strong research knowledge within our university on these matters. As much as I am a proud Dane, I was not keen to pursue a ‘best practice’ approach. Rather, we needed to build the course in close dialogue with our partners to be. COVID-19 slowed things down tremendously but by January 2021 we had a great team in place. Unfortunately, our early collaboration all had to happen online, but we were not deterred and keen to get the ball rolling. Although, how best to do this? Who to partner with? I decided to seek partners in so-called middle-income countries, rather than low-income countries, as some level of institutional development would make a university course at partner institutions more viable. We reached out to scholars in our network at Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, National Law School of India University, Center for Center for Comparative Constitutional Studies. This gave us a good reach across the globe, but one large area on the world map was missing – the post-Soviet region – so we sought contact to Ilia State University. We had no idea then that these initial steps would be the beginning of good friendships and valuable exchanges between scholars and students across all the concerned countries! We held initial meetings with our new partners to start a dialogue about what could be learned from Denmark – or the Nordic countries more broadly - and what issues were seen as relevant in our partner countries. In two webinar series we critically reflected on the Nordic model and shared knowledge. The first series ran from April to June 2021 and was titled Critical Perspectives on the Nordic Model. The second series ran from September to November 2021 with the theme Challenges to equal access to justice and welfare rights in the Global South. See our website: https://lnkd.in/dnUtVaW8 The benefits of these webinars were many: we started a discussion on topics relevant to the course we wanted to create, we learned from each other, and we started to build good relationships. These relationships only got stronger when, finally, the world opened and we could visit our partners in Brazil, Georgia, India and South Africa in 2022. More about this in a later post.

One screenshot that means the world to me… In honor of #VolunteerWeek, I’d like to share my journey as Chair of Governors for three incredible primary schools in North Yorkshire. Starting as a parent governor a few years ago, I unexpectedly stepped into the Chair role just over 12 months ago. It’s been an extraordinary journey filled with highs and lows, but I have cherished every moment. 🦉 Hiring a new Executive Head Teacher was an eye-opener – the process is worlds apart from the private sector! 🦉 OFSTED inspections for all three schools in the past year tested our nerves. Yet, there’s no greater joy than hearing positive feedback, surrounded by fellow governors moved to tears by the inspector’s words. 🦉 I am eternally grateful for the talented and passionate individuals I work with, both on the board and within the schools. Dr Eleanor Willard 🥰 Witnessing our collective efforts acknowledged by OFSTED was truly emotional. 🦉 Navigating procedures and learning the intricacies of the education system has been a steep learning curve. I’ve even picked up some of those elusive acronyms! 🦉 Budgets remain a constant challenge, with education funding being perpetually squeezed. As small, community-focused schools, finding ways to avoid deficits is a persistent struggle. Unlike the private sector, we can’t simply increase sales to balance the books. The image below captures the OFSTED report that brought us all to tears. It symbolizes the hard work and difficult decisions we made, always with the children’s best interests at heart. ❤️ I absolutely love being a Governor and highly recommend it. No prior experience is needed, and there’s plenty of free training available. Most school boards have vacancies – all you need to do is ask. I’m always happy to discuss governance with anyone interested. Thanks for reading! Helen P.S. One of my proudest moments was when my clerk mentioned that our meetings have the most laughs. While the work is serious, we all need some joy in our lives. 😂 P.P.S. I’m considering setting up a mentoring network for Chairs of Governors. It’s a solitary role, and I believe we could all benefit from each other’s experiences. If any fellow chairs are interested, please let me know!

Ministry of Education Cuts in Perspective. NZH reports 565 positions to go. 4,509 – 565 = 3,944 remaining employed. 3,944 – 2,700 (in 2017) = 1,244 to get back to pre-Labour (Hipkins) level. While it is hard for people to lose positions many of the new roles since 2017 have done little or nothing to help the children of NZ get a better education. If fact – the attendance and success of those students – has moved inversely to the willy-nilly employment strategies of Iona Holstead and her Deputy Secretaries. I haven’t seen it announced that Holsted (and her off-siders) have accepted responsibility for both the dire situation with the education system and the fact that 565 have been shown the door. There is little integrity if the top 12 have not fallen on their envelope openers and allowed Stanford and Seymour to bring in good people and bring the system change that our children, families, society and economy desperately needs. Alwyn Poole Innovative Education Consultants https://lnkd.in/gSWGwDp7 alwynpoole.substack.com https://lnkd.in/guYAjPNs

In our latest episode of #DeanTalks, we have the privilege of hearing from the Dean of the Royal School of Environmental and Earth Sciences and Student Welfare Prof. (Dr.) Bijay Singh Mipun He shares his inspiring vision and mission for the school, focusing on cultivating leaders equipped to address global environmental challenges through innovative research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and sustainable practices. Don't miss this insightful conversation about shaping a better future for our planet! #EnvironmentalLeadership #SustainableFuture #EarthSciences #InnovationInResearch #RoyalGlobalUniversity

#RKSpeaks: Inspired by the epic, Ramayana, we recognize the importance of spiritual growth, effective leadership, fulfilling our duties, community welfare, and nurturing future leaders. By embracing these principles, we can lead a life of purpose, growth, and fulfillment, contributing to a harmonious and prosperous world.

🫶🏿🙏🏿One of my favourite things every year is guest lecturing at TMU. Trav and I have been colleagues and friends for a solid 10 years, and it is always a joy to strengthen class learnings by adding rigor to what Trav teaches through the course curriculum, and adding new/additional knowledge that students definitely use/cite in their writing. This is my annual lecture regarding the theme of child welfare. Guest speaking and guest lecturing are two different things. The way I show up for each is different. My professor hat is on for this returning gig where I teach elements, and where it makes sense, add anecdotal additions, observations etc. Was back at TMU on Wednesday. Was a packed day re: early morning speaking engagement for an international conference, followed by lecturing at TMU. #GuestLecture #Lecture #Professor #TeachingGig #SpeakingGig #ChildWelfare #ChildProtection #ColonialHistory #History #Equity #Justice #SocialWork #CYW #HigherEd #University

If you like inspiring stories, then you are going to love the story of DMCU's CEO, Sati Smith, on her journey from being a single mother on welfare to being the leader of our credit union. Check out the story from CBS Detroit below! #ceo #leadership #creditunion #creditunionnews

Honestly bursting with pride for two of our WeMindTheGap Gappies Carolina and Chloe, and I know Sian Hughes who had the privilege to take them to the House of Commons and watch them take part in a Welsh Select Committee feels the same. Thankyou to the panel, who listened to them and welcomed them. If you get the chance to watch the second session, the questions and feedback from the panel shows that they heard and are curious by what they shared, their lived experience, and that matters. Here is the link https://lnkd.in/eH4aYVrY 1) Consultations with young people rarely reach those outside of traditional statutory pathways - that was recognised! 2) We need new routes to employment for young people not necessarily on the traditional pathway of school or higher education - that was recognised! 3) We need to find and nurture young entrepreneurs - that was recognised! I learnt a lot from listening to the session, but I also know that our ideas/pilots of an Alternative Employability Hub for young people not in education, employment or training is absolutely needed and is truly exciting. I will be reaching out to all those involved yesterday to follow up on the the opportunities this has created for our young people to influence, advocate and make change happen for Wales. It will take us all working together to make it happen. #ukspf #employability #socialmobility