International Summer School Social Work and Social Science from a Global Perspective

The students actively participated in the summer school with a great deal of commitment, creativity and enjoyment and gained in-depth insights into the social and educational system in Finland.

The international summer school is organised by Prof^in. (FH) Dr Johanna M. Hefel (FHV), Assoc. Prof. Kelly Melekis (University of Vermont, USA), Prof. Merja Laitinen and Eve Orhanli, MA (University of Rovaniemi, Finland).

Teachers and students thematised social work in the respective country-, culture- and society-specific context. The first week was characterised by exchange and encounters at various levels in the form of lectures by lecturers, country-specific presentations by students and workshops, while the second week involved excursions and encounters with the country and culture. The participants gained an insight into the school and social system in the extremely sparsely populated north of Lapland and visited facilities for homeless people and programmes for young people/young adults in Helsinki.

Another important aspect of the summer school is awareness-raising and sensitisation with regard to the history, way of life and current situation of the indigenous population of Lapland, the Sami. Visits to former settlements, museums, a tour of the Sámi Parliament and a visit to a reindeer farm run by the Sámi provide an insight into the rich cultural heritage of the original nomads. 

The midnight sun proved to be ideal for experiencing, learning and international encounters - almost around the clock. In addition to the comprehensive summer school programme, the students' shared accommodation, the international evening and numerous joint activities helped the students to experience and learn about many similarities and differences.