Under the auspices of Prof. Younes Amr, the President of Al Quds Open University, the Faculty of Social and Family Development in cooperation with the International Network for Youth and Support of Social Equality in marginalized areas, the Ministry of Social Development and the Union of Social and Psychological Workers organized a workshop entitled "Professional Empowerment of Social Workers"

Dr. Imad  Al-Hodali, Assistant to the President of the University for Public and International Relations and Media, inaugurated the workshop and pointed to the importance of cooperation between the University's departments and Faculties, considering that these activities are the result of cooperation and networking between the International Youth Network and the Faculty of Social and Family Development.

The Director of Nablus Branch, Prof.  Youssef Diab Awad said that organizing such activities comes within the context of the University's social responsibility .stressed that the University is constantly opening its door to all activities and professional activities that contribute to activating the role of social workers and empowering them.

 

On the other hand, Dr. Emad Ishtiyeh, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Family Development, presented a paper on training during education in the field of social work, pointing out that the University has worked over the past years to develop a study plan for the specialization of social service in theory and practice that is based on cognitive  theories in sociology, psychology and social services. Dr. Ishtayeh also added that  the University pays great attention to training, which has been developed so that the student will acquire the necessary skills for professional intervention, whether at the individual or community level. The training includes 850-1000 training hours and is held under a professional and academic supervision.

For their part, the team of the International Network for Youth and Support of Social Equality in the Marginalized Areas, which is based in Paris, presented theoretical and professional interventions on the reality of social work in France, stressing that the international network was established years ago and it functions in Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, Portugal, France, Italy and Senegal. Dr. Aziz Bormo talked about the challenges that face social workers while working with young people, moving from violence to democracy, promoting critical thinking among young people, and reducing their stress.

At the end of the workshop, the participants stressed the need to strengthen the professional and academic relations between the international network and the Palestinian partners at their three levels: academic, professional and the Union, and keep on exchanging experiences and building joint programs and  learn about the network experience in its various places and work hard to organize training programs for students, graduates and specialists. This requires concerted efforts, harnessing potentials and utilizing the International Network for the Development of the Professional Capacities of Social Workers of all partners.