Mid Term Report 31st December 2020
Nordic Baltic Regional Resource Centre (NBRRC) in Social Workhttps://www.nbrrsocialwork.com/Professor Chaitali Das and I are pleased to present the midterm report for the IASSW NBRRC.
1. Introduction
The proposed IASSW-NBRRC aims to promote the internationalisation of social work education andresearch across the partner universities through annual meetings and workshops, a common website andthe facilitation collaborations in teaching and research. The working aims of the centre are to; identify andshare best practices (in teaching and field work); discuss education and research priorities in view of thecontemporary global issues; identify convergences and divergences and develop further cooperation; andlink local and regional priorities and activities with IASSW initiatives.
The expected outcomes are as follows:•••

Documentation of practices as well as teaching and field work efforts that reflect engagement withcontemporary issues.
New and extended partnerships in teaching
Collaboration in research (on social work education, field work and social issues)

Outcomes and activities will be presented as part of social work conferences such as the EASSW, GermanAssociation of Social Work (DGSA), Nordic Social Work Conference and on the SOSNET website.
Furthermore, a special issue feature in the Journal of Social Work Education, and entries in the IFSW
journal, Social Dialogue journal will be considered.

Background to the NBRRC in Social Work
The MOU agreement between the University of Eastern Finland, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences andthe IAASW was signed in December 2019 and an initial 2,000 USD was transferred to a UEF account in early2020. The Nordic Baltic Regional Resource Centre represents a new and exciting network of university-based
schools of social work, educators, and practitioners across Nordic and Baltic countries such as Denmark,Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden. There
are similar regional centres funded by the International Association of Schools of Social Work in other regions

of the world i.e., China and the Oceania region. Our network of university partners is committed to exchange
across participating countries for the promotion of global social work education (with a particular emphasis
on practice education) and the recognition of examples of innovative and transformative social work researchand practice. The centre offers new opportunities for active partnership in teaching and research on thecontemporary issues such as sustainability, diversity, inequality, migration and promote the regional
professional profile of social work education and research. The centre is coordinated by the University ofEastern Finland, Finland and Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Germany. The current Directors of thecentre are Professors Chaitali Das, (FUAS), Janet Carter Anand (UEF).
2. Description of the process of implementation
a. Recruitment
A letter of invitation to join NBRRC was published across our networks and with key Nordic and Balticorganisations i.e., FORSA, German Association of Social Work. Current membership details are listed below.
Table: Current Membership List, December 2020
NameEmailUniversity/Organisation
University of EasternFinlandFrankfurt Universityof Applied Sciences
University of Lapland
RGSU

Country

Janet Carter Anand

janet.anand@uef.fi

Chaitali Das

Chaitali.das@fb4.fra-uas.de

Lähteinen Sanna
Anastasia АнастасияВладимировна
Stefan Borrmannsanna.lahteinen@ulapland.fi
KarpuninaAV@rgsu.net

Landshut Universityof Applied Sciences
Laurea University ofApplied Sciences

Germany

Virpi Lund

stefan.borrmann@hawlandshut.deVirpi.Lund@laurea.fiGuðbjörg Ottósdóttir
Bagga Bjerge

gudbjoro@hi.isbb.crf@psy.au.dk

University of Iceland
Aarhus University

IcelandDenmarkTomi Toikko

timo.toikko@uef.fi

Nathalie Joubert
Ingo Stamm
Alexander M. Fedorov
Ulrika Järkestig-Berggren
Reeli Sirotkina
Emme-Li Vingare
Sofia Rönkkö
Sergey Golubev

University of Eastern
Finlandnatalieljoubert@outlook.com Social Work
Practitioner
Ingo.Stamm@chydenius.fi
Chydenius
fedorov.mpgu@yandex.ru
Moscow PedagogicalState University
ulrika.jarkestigLinnaeus University
berggren@lnu.se
reelisir@tlu.ee
Tutu Universityemmeli.vingare@lnu.se
Linnaeus University
sofron@student.uef.fi
University of East
Finlands.golubev@soc-invest.ruФонда социальныхинвестиций

FinlandGermany
Finland
RussiaFinlandFinlandDenmark
Finland/Germany
RussiaSwedenEstonia
SwedenFinland
RussiaInternational Associate
Members
Lynette Joubert
ljoubert@unimelb.edu.au

University ofMelbourne

Australia

Centre Maurice
Halbwachs (ÉcoleNormale Supérieure)FranceCeren Şengül

csengul86@gmail.com

Ayat J. J. Nashwan
Lena Robinson

Research Instituteayat.n@yu.edu.jo
Yarmouk University
lena_robinson@hotmail.com Charles Sturt
UniversityJordan
Australia

b. Outcomes of the First Network Meeting
The first NBRCC meeting was held as a two-day webinar on the 5th and 6th October 2020 (2 to 5pm).
the webinar program included an introduction from Annamaria Campanini, President IASSW, and an
update from RRC representatives and NBRRC Directors. The members of the NBRRC introduced each otherand the ideas that led to the initial application were presented (please see attached presentation). Prof.
Campanini also outlined the ideas behind establishing regional centers. NBRRC is the third world center.
The first was a Regional Centre between cooperating Schools of Social Work from the Pacific Islands andthe second, a regional center in China which sought to build partnerships between universities across
China, including Hongkong. Issues of membership for Nordic Baltic Centre were discussed, and it was
decided to actively recruit new members from Greenland and Faroe Islands. The Centre still seeks
membership from Poland, Latvia and Lithuania as well. Members were requested to publicize the center
through existing networks and recruit new members from the listed countries within the Network.
Members also introduced their research interests and presented some ideas for possible joint working(Please see outline of interests). Finally, issues of visibility of the center were discussed, and Prof.
Campanini suggested that there are possibilities to link the regional centers as well as make them more
visible on the IASSW websites. Furthermore, there are possibilities for the members to further network
through different upcoming conferences in the region, starting with the EASSW conference in Estonia andthe FORSA Conference in 2021 in Iceland. Link to Recorded Webinar Day 1(https://media.uef.fi//GetMP4.ashx?ppID=2&file=62196_5l~EskTlZSnrg.mp4&source=8&bb=0&bt=0&po=0&pi=0&ds=8433.96&so=4&st=0&tf=0&cs=p~smuCVVzntnfoDvglEvcIS84vIKSQGf3sNpJo8gB7XDXgfAcsDqs8y
uRECIaGirHJrSYpVN7LDSI0~n6V7pJA (NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION)
Present members agreed that the key to this was getting to know each other, either by working/teaching
together, reading each other’s publications and meeting each other through conferences. There was also asuggestion of creating short video inputs, which the NBRRC could make available on the website. A range ofideas as to how this could be achieved were discussed and the following measures were agreed upon:•••The network creates a list of members with contact details that is circulated among the members
Create a catalogue of the topics, interests and expertise to member shared and jointly developed
as well as resources (presentations) to be jointly shared across universities. Members may beencouraged to contact other members and invite them to provide lectures/teachings/discussions.
Each member identifies and sends two articles that highlight their interests and orientations totheir themes/topics. These may be shared with other members of the network (and uploaded if
copyright issues permit). Each member is also requested to provide a high-quality Photo and theircontact details for the website.
Members will explore the possibility of meeting through the following events:

During the International Week mid-May 2021 at Frankfurt (hosted by the Frankfurt Universityof Applied Sciences)
During the IASSW conference in Estonia mid-June 2021
During the FORSA conference in Iceland in Nov 2021
It was also discussed that a date in March for another online meeting would be useful. The Network willorganize a doodle poll to identify which dates suit best. Link to Recorded Webinar Day 2
https://media.uef.fi//GetMP4.ashx?ppID=2&file=62207_5e~WIi2rHrWiJ.mp4&source=8&bb=0&bt=0&po=0&pi=0&ds=2709.12&so=4&st=0&tf=0&cs=P1gv4o0lS8dAi6oQTLhuNNlUDHZoHHg6q34h7fvS1M8ohj~Ar
V7wZhQd7qdgHwXShZakmJd2qllclbis_Zdkkg (NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION)
c. NBRRC Member Priorities for January 2021 to June 2022
The diversity of the Nordic-Baltic region also brings with it a diversity of issues that are central to socialwork. Members are particularly interested in sharing ideas, discussing, and developing social work with thefollowing issues:
Fields of Practice in Education
Ageing: Janet Anand (Finland), Reeli Sirotkina (Estonia), Emme-Li Vingare (Sweden)Children & Families: Natalia Joubert (Denmark), Карпунина Анастасия Владимировна, (Russia) Ingo
Stamm (Germany, Finland), Virpi Lund (Finland) , Ulrika Järkestig-Berggren (Sweden)
Youth: Stefan Bormann (Germany)
Disabilities: Карпунина Анастасия Владимировна, (Russia), Ulrika Järkestig-Berggren (Sweden),Guðbjörg Ottósdóttir, (Iceland)
Environmental issues: Ingo Stamm (Germany/Finland)
Migration and Integration: Natalie Joubert (Denmark) , Virpi Lund (Finland), Guðbjörg Ottósdóttir,(Iceland), Janet Carter Anand (Finland), Chaitali Das ( Germany)
Poverty & Unemployment: Ingo Stamm (Germany/Finland), Guðbjörg Ottósdóttir, (Iceland)
Resistance in social work: Chaitali Das (Germany), Janet Carter Anand (Finland)
Methods: The Nordic Baltic region not only has a history of diverse pedagogical methodologies but is alsosocial workers are keen to develop and adapt other methodologies to address various issues of increasing
urgency and require innovative responses. This network boasts members that cover a variety of praxis as
well as research methodologies that have a direct impact in social practice, social work education andresearch.
Community Development: Virpi Lund (Finland), Chaitali Das (Germany)Mediation: Reeli Sirotkina, (Estonia)
Practice Research : Janet Carter Anand, (Finland) Lynette Joubert (Australia)

Co-creation, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Marketing : Janet Carter Anand (Finland) , Chaitali Das(Germany), Natalia Joubert (Denmark)Virtual Reality: Карпунина Анастасия Владимировна, (Russia)
Social Pedagogy and Digitalization: Александр Михайлович Федоров, (Russia), Chaitali Das (Germany)
Qualitative methods including Narrative and Biographical methods: Ingo Stamm (Finland/Germany) ,Guðbjörg Ottósdóttir, (Iceland)
Professional Social Work: The arguments and debates around professional social work and ascertaining thefuture directions of social work remain key issues of discussion in the Nordic Baltic region. Our members
are interested in further discussion the following:
Diverse social professions, welfare systems and transnational professionals: Reeli Sirotkina, (Estonia) ,Chaitali Das (Germany), Guðbjörg Ottósdóttir, (Iceland)
Multicultural social work, Cultural Competence: Natalie Joubert (Denmark), Guðbjörg Ottósdóttir, (Iceland),Janet Carter Anand (Finland)Service User Involvement: Natalie Joubert , (Denmark)Boundaries in Relationships: Карпунина Анастасия Владимировна Anastasia (Russia), Chaitali Das(Germany)
Global-regional-local dimensions: Alexander M. Fedorov (Russia) , Janet Carter Anand (Finland) , ChaitaliDas (Germany)
Statutory and non-statutory social work - international expertise, sharing best practices in social
entrepreneurship-two-way exchange (social model for business): Janet Anand
Human Right: Ingo Stamm (Finland/Germany)
Decolonizing Social Work: Chaitali Das (Germany), Janet Carter Anand (Finland)
Table 2 NBRRC Priories for 2021-2022
Activity
1.Recruitment

2. Website

3. Bi-annual NBRRC
Meetings
3. Access to teaching
and learning
resources

Description
Emphasis on
Greenland, Faeroe
Islands, Norway,
Lithuania,
Upgrade & populate
with content,
catalogue, photos
Specific Agenda)

Responsibility
Project Assistant

Deadline
June 2022

Project AssistantJune 2021

Project AssistantMarch 2021
October 2021
March 2022

SOSNET – Global
Perspectives Course
material available
online via website

Project AssistantNBRRC centre
recorded webinars –available online
4. Erasmus Mobility

5. Join Research &Publications

6.Field Education
Mobility
7. Conferences &Symposium

Staff & Student
Mobility to Russia &Social
Entrepreneurship
1. Fieldwork
Education Research
Project (UEF) &Publications
2. CulturalCompetence draft ofpossible Publication(FUAS) 1. Project with theNordic Centre India
Ensure representation

Janet Anand &АлександрМихайловичФедоров
Janet Anand
Chaitali Das

December 2021

December 2021

Janet Carter Anand &Cristobel Roy (NCI)
All Members
December 2021

1. FUAS International
Week/Summer School2021
2. ECSSWE
Conference, Tallinn,
Estonia – April 2021
3. FORSA ConferenceReykjavik, Iceland,
2021

Links with otherRegional Resource
Centres

Janet Carter Anandd. Employment of a Project Assistant
The centre is currently in the second stage of the development (see original proposal). The new website has
been launched and is currently under development. We have recently employed a UEF PhD student (ProjectAssistant), Ms Sofia Rönkkö, on a 6mth part time contract to undertake the following tasks:••••

to further develop the contents and catalogues of the website
extend centre membership to the Faeroe Islands and Greenland and other eligible
countries and establish a recruitment processfacilitation of the bi-annual meetings 2021 (March, October 2021)
initiate the coordination of two education-based research projects - see below.

e. Collaborative Teaching Activity- Student Webinars (State University Moscow, FUAS and UEF)

A series of webinars (SUM, FUAS and UEF) were run in November and December for students from at theparticipating universities and recordings of the events are available through the State University of Moscow,Russia.
A UEF Webinar for Nordic Baltic students on Migration and Inclusion will be delivered in March 2021 and will
be student led.
f.

UEF Ethics permit granted for Nordic Baltic Audit on Fieldwork

The study will be undertaken in 2021 and aims to consider the different ways in which professional fieldplacements are organised and managed throughout the Nordic Baltic region and internationally. This
research is both topical and needed given the impact of Covid-19 on the delivery of field work education.
The research eventually aims to consider the diverse and different forms of placement models and tofurther pedagogical practices and theory in social work, in international field work. Information on theseissues is relatively unsystematic and understudied in social work research and education thus far. This
research will also contribute to the identification of best practices and a deeper consideration of the role ofplacements in social work. The research is a pilot project aimed to explore the different models of fieldplacement in social work education internationally.

g. Planned Erasmus Application for Post Graduate Education
A combined submission Practice Research in Action (PRIA) is planned for March 2021 by UEF and FUAS andfor the development of post graduate social work education across European countries.

3. A discussion of outcomes and/or feedback to the project
The current pandemic has meant that we have adopted a more flexible and innovate approaches to delivering
our strategies and achieving our initial objectives. The first of a series of bi-annual meeting have establisheda network of committed academics, students, and practitioners together with a list of regional priories forsocial work education. Links with existing regional centres and the IASSW have been established. The recentsocial work student webinars have facilitated new teaching partnerships between members and a sharing ofonline teaching practices. Teaching material on global perspectives in social work will be shared by SOSNETand UEF on the centre’s webpage. Collaboration in research is evidenced in proposed studies on fieldwork
education and cultural competence. The centre proposes to have representation at key European social work
conferences and organisations and publications are planned based on the proposed research and teachingcollaboration.
4. Conclusion
Over the last 18 months the centre has made significant progress in working towards NBRRC goals and has
established a robust plan involving key priorities for the remainder of the project. We would like to thank theIASSW and committee for their support with this project.

Janet Carter Anand, Professor of International Social Work, University of Eastern Finland, Finland
Chaitali Das, Professor of Transnational and International Social Work, Frankfurt University of Applied
Sciences, Germany