From 30 June to 5 July 2024, the 26th International Summer School took place for the first time at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and brought together almost 40 students from the Croix Rouge Française (France), the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences.
The summer school focussed on key topics of socio-ecological transformation such as inequality, the consequences of climate change and migration, global citizenship education and their impact on social work. Participants had the opportunity to engage with critical issues through keynote speeches, interactive workshops, presentations and intensive dialogue. In particular, the keynote speeches by renowned experts such as Yannick Liedholz, Johannes Verch, Stephan Lund, Meike Bukowski and Heidi Grobbauer were very well received and provided valuable impetus for further discussions and activities.
In line with the values of the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, the programme promoted practice-oriented and regionally aware learning, which was supplemented by excursions to local social institutions. The participants were able to get to know the work of the resident services of the new BWS Hallein, the youth social work of Bivak.Mobil and the Red Cross at close quarters. The visits offered particular added value, as international perspectives could be exchanged not only within the summer school, but also in local social occupational fields.
The feedback from students about this year's Summer School has been very positive so far, particularly with regard to the content and organisation. Many participants even expressed the wish that more time than just one week should be available.
Thanks to the organisation team
Many thanks to all the organisers from the participating institutions. Our esteemed partner university, Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin, in particular, contributed valuable and long-standing experience. We are also very pleased about the new collaboration with partners of the Croix Rouge Française! We would also like to thank the International Office of the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, which made a significant contribution to the successful implementation of the summer school as an Erasmus project BIP (Blended Intensive Programme). Many thanks also to Franz and the FAGO team for the excellent catering! And last but not least, we would of course also like to thank the organisation team at FH Salzburg under the leadership of Sabrina Stattmann, who ensured that everything ran smoothly both during the preparation phase and throughout the Summer School.
We are already looking forward to the next edition of the International Summer School and to continuing to make a contribution to socio-ecological transformation and social work!
