2007 Press Releases
Social Work Development Unit (SWDU) launched at UCC
The profession of social work within UCC and the wider community is set
to benefit with the official launch today (18 May 2007) of the Social
Work Development Unit (SWDU). According to Dr Marian Murphy of
UCC's Department of Applied Social Studies, the establishment of the
SWDU will facilitate the provision of a resource for social work
practitioners who wish to pursue research interests and activities,
conference presentations and publish papers. The Unit will also
support the professional representative organization - the Irish
Association of Social Workers (IASW) as well as create and develop
social work teaching resources and engage with the media on issues
related to social work and social justice.
"Conferences and presentations will be co-ordinated under the aegis of
the Unit to enhance the profile of social work in the department and of
social work in general" said Dr Murphy who explained that UCC's Applied
Social Studies Department caters for 180 social work students each year
and has links with a variety of practice agencies such as HSE Social
Work Departments, community and family support projects, the Probation
and Welfare service as well as social work services in hospitals,
mental health settings and organizations providing services to people
with physical and intellectual disabilities.
The launch by Professor Neil Thompson, an eminent social work
researcher and academic writer from the UK coincides with a lecture by
Professor Thompson who will examine the nature of professional social
work. He will argue for the need to reinstate professionalism,
not one based on elitism, but one based on a model of partnership and
empowerment.
The launch of the Unit takes place at 2.15pm in Boole II Lecture Theatre.
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