CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF PROMOTING SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION,
HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN WELL-BEING: IASSW 1928-2018
Selected Highlights
In 1928, several thousand social workers, educators and others involved in social welfare gathered at the First International
Conference of Social Work in Paris. A significant part of the conference focused on social work education, generating over
200 pages of proceedings. Led by Alice Salomon, an important outcome of the gathering was a call to establish aninternational association of schools of social work. A year later, in June 1929 in Berlin, the constitution of the InternationalCommittee of Schools of Social Work was adopted. For 90 years, the association has pursued enduring purposes:
To advance and promote quality social work education around the world
To represent social work education in global bodies and promote social work values
To facilitate the exchange of research and ideas among educators
Milestones:
1930s:
Established a documentation center on social work education with the International Labour Organization
Alice Salomon, President, publishes global survey of social work education (1937)
Held summer seminars and meetings at 2nd world conference (Berlin) and 3rd world conference (London) in spite of
the worldwide depression
Board holds firm in face of Nazi demands to remove Salomon from Presidency
1940s:War disrupts most communication in early 1940s; Elinor Black of England, Secretary, struggles to maintain contacts
An informal board meeting is held in 1946 as founding leaders regroup to revitalize the organization
Rene Sand assumes leadership in 1946 and discussions to revive larger meetings are held1947 IASSW granted consultative status with the United Nations, one of the earliest organizations to gain thisrecognition with the new world bodyFirst post-war conference held in Atlantic City in the United States in 1948
1950s:
IASSW and ICSW return to Paris for a major world conference in 1950. Katherine Kendall presents on her First World
Survey of Social Work Education published by the UN in 1950
IASSW leadership becomes more global with board members from Latin America and Asia and holds conferences
outside the west.
UN adopts a resolution that social work is a professional occupation requiring specialized education
Establishes the journal International Social Work with ICSW (soon joined by IFSW)Name of the organization officially changed to the International Association of Schools of Social WorkFirst IASSW Congress held in Asia in Tokyo in 1958 (although a meeting on social work education was held in Madras in1952)
1960s:First IASSW Congress held in Latin America (Brazil, 1962)
Newly independent countries in Africa and Asia initiate social work training and join IASSW
IASSW representative participates in the Conference of Ministers Responsible for Social Welfare (1968)
Regional association established in Latin America (ALAETS, 1967)

IASSW ICSW panel at UN 2018

Informal Board Meeting
after World War II,Geneva Switzerland- April,1946

E. Younghusband and K. Kendall,
1962 Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Board meeting, Manila 1970

1970s:
20-country project on social work in family planning education supported by large grants from national and internationalorganizations
Publications expand with volumes on family welfare in Africa and Asia
Congress held in Africa for the first time (Nairobi 1974)
Regional associations formed in Africa (ASWEA, 1971) and Asia-Pacific (APASWE, 1974)
1980s
World Guide to Social Work Education (1984) published, an in-depth look at social work education
Women's Caucus initiatedSeminars and consultations held for Eastern European countries now re-establishing social work education
Younghusband memorial lecture at biennial congresses initiated (1984)
1990s
Published Human Rights and Social Work jointly with the United Nations and IFSWWorld Census of Social Work Education identifies 1600 programs
Katherine Kendall Award for Contributions to International Education launched (1992)
Efforts to assist China to establish social work programs begin
Women's Interest Group becomes official with board representation
IASSW sponsors a workshop at the United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing
1992 Congress, Washington,D.C.

2000s:
Publication of Social Dialogue begun
Assists ACSWE to establish Caribbean Journal of Social Work
Initiation of Small Grants program for collaborative efforts to enhance social work
education
Adoption of revised Definition of Social Work and Statement of Ethical Principles (withIFSW)
Adoption of first ever Global Standards for Social Work Education with IFSW (2004)
Adoption of the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development (2012)
Team of Representatives at the UN in New York sponsors numerous workshops at theCommissions on Social Development and on the Status of Women and at the HighLevel Political Forum
Joint project with UNAIDS results in Geneva seminar and publication of acomprehensive volume on social work and HIV/AIDS 2016-2017
Election of first Presidents from Africa and Asia (2004, 2008, 2012)
IASSW voted unanimously to remain an independent association

Closing Hong Kong 2010

Celebrating 90 Years and Moving Forward toward our 100th:“Social work educators come together in international organizations and at international meetings because there is a common
heritage and purpose that is important to us. We wish to join our strengths and overcome our weaknesses. We hope to shareinterests, problems, and achievements, and to learn from one another…Bound by shared values and by methods that are still
being forged and tested, we work toward common goals of human betterment and social justice.” IASSW, now and moving
forward, “can make internationalism work for the improvement of social work education and practice, and contribute to abetter future for the generations that succeed us.” (words written by Katherine Kendall for the 70th anniversary of thefounding of IASSW).