Over the past few days, Prof. Dr. Rudolf Schmitt and Prof. Dr. Andreas Markert (both from the Social Work degree programme) as well as university social worker Sandro Hänseroth have presented at major conferences on current topics and developments in Social Work. At the 10th Federal Congress on Social Work, held in Bielefeld from September 5–7, 2018, under the motto “The Value of the Social—The Value of Social Work,” Prof. Dr. Rudolf Schmitt, together with Prof. Dr. Sebastian Schröer from the Evangelical University of Applied Sciences Berlin, presented doctoral pathways and opportunities for graduates of social work degree programmes. In particular, the topic “Pursuing a Doctorate After a University of Applied Sciences Degree in Social Work: Is It Worth It to Us?” was discussed by students, doctoral candidates, and faculty members in a manner that was both critical and controversial.

In the event “University Social Work—Approaches to an Innovative Field of Social Work Practice,” Sandro Hänseroth and Prof. Dr. Andreas Markert presented the approach to university social work that has been in practice at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences since May 2016. In addition to the methodological foundations and theoretical frameworks of this approach—which is unique in the German-speaking world—initial experiences with academically supported university social work were presented and discussed in depth with students and colleagues from other universities.

As part of the 4th International Congress of the Swiss Society for Social Work (SGSA), which took place on September 12 and 13, 2018, in Lausanne under the title “Social Work and the Life Course in an Era of Acceleration,” Sandro Hänseroth and Prof. Dr. Andreas Markert presented university social work as an institutional response to changing problems and life situations faced by students. In addition to the functions and potential of university social work in the context of contemporary higher education socialization, the symposium focused primarily on the questions of how university social work can be adapted to other higher education systems and integrated with internal and external support services.

Students facing difficulties or problems with their studies or in their day-to-day academic life can find an overview of the available counseling and support services here.

All services offered by the HSZG and the 'Studentenwerk' (student union) are free of charge.