The Department of Social Work is a study and research center that is growing stronger every day, and is responsible for strengthening social work as a branch of the social sciences and for the development of social work as an applied field of study. The department's programmes have been evaluated and accredited by top international experts. The Department has trained 11 PhDs in social sciences. In one way or another, their inspiration and mentor was Professor dr. Elvyra Acienė.
The mission of the Department of Social Work is to train highly qualified social work specialists capable of solving human social problems and organizing the activities of the social services market, and to carry out scientific research activities leading to the interaction between theory and practice. Particular attention is paid to the harmony between theory and practice and to reflexive culture. This is facilitated not only by the scientific but also by the practical experience of the Department's lecturers and close cooperation with institutions of practice.
Department of Social Work today. The theme of the Department's research work is the development of innovative social work in the context of interdisciplinary approach to the creation of social welfare.
The strategy of the department's formation is based on the principle of selecting the most talented graduates of the department's programme, who have a strong motivation for scientific pedagogical work at the university, and who have the qualities necessary for the work of a researcher and a pedagogue. Today, 80 % of the Department's lecturers are former graduates who are successfully preparing and defending their doctoral dissertations. Several more graduates are currently working towards their PhD.
The strengths of the KU social work studies are the post-graduation employment rate of graduates. Both the master's and bachelor's degree programmes are highly rated by international experts.
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