Basics of Social Management

The social sector, with its wide variety of social organizations such as associations, limited liability companies (GmbHs), and foundations, offers diverse and exciting opportunities for engagement. In “Social Management Basics,” you’ll learn how to navigate successfully within various teams and organizational structures. You’ll receive support in understanding your role within the organization, collaborating reflectively with colleagues, and building a network both within and outside the organization.

In the fifth semester, you will learn everything about teamwork and group dynamics in social organizations. You will explore the goals, characteristics, and working methods of groups both in person and when collaborating in virtual teams, and you will gain an overview of the fundamentals of labor law, individual rights, and key legal issues related to relocation and digitalization in the workplace. 

In the sixth semester, this module focuses on fundamental concepts and processes in human resources management and personnel development. You will learn how digitalization is influencing human resources and what opportunities and challenges this presents. The course content also includes the fundamentals of (social) innovation and innovation management, knowledge management, and digital work. You will also learn the basics of collaboration and collaboration management and explore how to establish collaborations and use digital networking tools. 
In this elective course, you will become familiar with terms, selected concepts, and tools related to human resources management, (social) innovation, knowledge management, and digital work. You will also learn how these can be applied in Social Work. After completing the course, you’ll be able to understand the fundamentals of collaboration management, as you’ll also be able to apply them in case studies. 

The best part? This elective will perfectly prepare you for the demands of the modern workplace!

Internships

To pursue a career in Social Work in the future, it is important for you to experience, apply, and further develop the theoretical and methodological knowledge you have acquired during your studies in selected areas of practice. To make this possible, various types of internships are offered, which you will complete at social work organizations.

1. Between the first and second semesters, you will complete your first 100-hour practical placement in a field of Social Work.  This initial practical phase allows you to become familiar with social work practice and the application of professional competencies. The practical phase is accompanied by a seminar in which you can discuss and reflect on your experiences.
2. As you transition into the fifth semester, the 450-hour (full-time) or 350-hour (part-time) professional internship (long-term internship) begins in September. During this time, you will gain insight into the challenges faced by a social work organization and the professional approaches used to address them. The professional internship can be completed in Austria or abroad, and you will receive both supervisory and academic support from the university throughout the process. 

You also have the opportunity to complete the long-term internship in a country in Africa, Asia, or Latin America as part of the “Global Social Dialog Internships” project, gaining valuable intercultural experience in the process. You can find more information on the website: Internship Program for Students at Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences (globalsocialdialog.at)

(Under certain conditions, you may be able to have prior relevant work experience credited toward your degree.)

The internship coordination office oversees the organizational processes related to the practical phases of the Bachelor’s Program in Social Work. Students receive support with any questions, and contact with the field placement sites (field placement partnerships) is maintained. One aspect of maintaining these contacts is the events at which social work field placement sites are invited to CU Carinthia University of Applied Sciences.

Political Context of Social Work

First and foremost, various courses will provide you with an introduction to Austria’s political system. Both its historical development and its current functioning will be covered. The focus is on key concepts related to different forms of government and systems of governance, as well as forms of civic participation. The various levels of government – the European Union, the federal government, the states, and municipalities – are also discussed, along with their significance for social work.

Building on this, you will receive an introduction to the fundamentals of Austrian social policy. Basic concepts in social policy, historical development (the “social question” in the 19th century), and the current functioning of the Austrian social and welfare state will be discussed. Other key areas of focus include institutions and actors, as well as fields of social policy action (e.g., labor market policy, co-determination in the welfare state, collective bargaining policy).

Finally, the course explores various opportunities for political participation in Austria. It also includes a critical examination of the concept of participation. Building on “classical forms of participation,” the focus is placed on participatory democracy (e.g., citizens’ councils, future workshops). Opportunities and risks of political participation in Austria – for example, in the context of digitalization – as well as action-oriented concepts and methods are further key areas of focus.

Child and Youth Services

This new specialization focuses on deepening students’ understanding of the largest fieldof practice in Social Work, with specific references to Carinthia and Austria.

Building on the introductory overview already covered in the second semester in the Childhood/Youth module, various specific concepts and methods are analyzed and discussed using case studies.

Low-threshold services and outreach work are addressed, as are drug use and abuse, and the central role of the Youth Welfare Office as an interface between target groups and providers of mobile and residential support services.

Based on current research findings, the strengths and weaknesses of this field of practice are presented, and possible future developments are outlined.

International Social Work

In an increasingly globalized world, intercultural competence is a key professional skill for all areas of social work. It requires both a reflective perspective on the growing multicultural diversity within one’s own country and a transnational perspective that extends beyond national borders.

Do you want to know how cultures and cultural characteristics emerge and what influence they have on individual and societal development processes? Are you interested in the ways minorities, migrants, refugees, and specific ethnic groups integrate? Would you like to gain a deeper insight into the organizational structures, concepts, and goals of international networks and development cooperation? Do you wonder how professional social work functions in the Global South?

Then the International Social Work specialization is right for you.

Key elements of the module include:

• Fundamentals of International Development
• Areas of practice in international social work
• Social Work in an international comparison
• Development cooperation and development research in theory and practice
• Transcultural communication and intercultural competencies
• Legal Foundations
• Practical Exercises and Role-Playing to Develop Intercultural Competencies
• Practical exploration of the fields of international social work through field excursions and analysis of case studies
• Self-reflective examination of one’s own biases and constructs of normality

Related Project:
Students in the Social Work Program have the opportunity to complete a long-term internship in a country in Africa, Asia, or Latin America as part of the “Global Social Dialog Internships” project, thereby gaining valuable intercultural experience. Website: Internship Program for Students at Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences (globalsocialdialog.at)

You might also be interested in these topics:

• CU Carinthia University of Applied Sciences Launches New Research Collaboration in Ethiopia
• Successful book presentation in Uganda
• Social Work as a Legacy of Colonialism
• The World in Your Ear: 10 Years of APPEAR’s “Hörschau” on Social Work and Development
• Conducting research in Africa, learning from Africa

Gender & Diversity

Gender and diversity competencies are considered key skills in Social Work. They are essential for dealing sensitively and competently with diversity in organizations, for engaging with colleagues from various fields of practice, and for working with clients in social work.
This elective course focuses on acquiring foundational knowledge about gender, diversity, and sexuality. Particular emphasis is placed on sexual and gender diversity from an intersectional perspective.  You will gain in-depth insights into the lived experiences of individuals from the LGBT*I*Q+ (LGBTQIA+) community and will be able to describe, using examples, areas of action, organizations, projects, and approaches in social work within the context of diversity and queer theory.

Against the backdrop of intersectionality, the causes, consequences, and manifestations of discrimination and violence related to gender and sexuality will be discussed. In doing so, you will reflect on social power dynamics and inequalities of opportunity, as well as your own attitudes toward gender, sexuality, and diversity. The courses also address possible measures for prevention and intervention in the areas of gender-based violence and sexual violence.

Finally, in the context of sexuality and social work, the focus is on sex education and sexual counseling.  You will then understand the importance of low-threshold sexual counseling and sex education for different target groups. In this elective course, you will explore topics, formats, concepts, and methods of sex education and sexual counseling 

Practical, hands-on sessions will raise your awareness of gender and diversity and help you develop new practical skills. Real-world connections are established through (virtual) field trips, off-campus courses, or guest lectures by experts from the field.

Foreign Language Skills

When you work in Social Work and interact with clients, colleagues, researchers, and academic authors, one medium is always involved: language. In a world that is increasingly transcending political and cultural boundaries, multilingualism is becoming the norm. 

What is taught? 
Due to Carinthia’s unique location – in the border triangle at the intersection of three linguistic and cultural regions – Italian and Slovenian are offered as required-elective courses over four semesters. During your studies, you can choose one of the two.

Knowledge of another foreign language in addition to English provides graduates with an outstanding qualification. Furthermore, Italian opens the door to other Romance languages, while Slovenian throws open the door to other Slavic languages. In addition, some – or all – of the courses in the Social Work Program are taught in English.

Here’s what you can expect: 

• Practical foreign language instruction
• Classes in small groups
• Step-by-step development of your own learning strategies
• Diverse teaching methods and creative language use
• Discussions on topics relevant to social work
• (Virtual) field trips and guest lectures

No prior knowledge of the foreign language is required! 

Sign Language: 
If there is sufficient interest among your classmates, you’ll have the opportunity to voluntarily participate in a course on Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS)!

Sign language is a visually perceptible language used primarily by deaf or hard-of-hearing people to communicate. Discover the fascinating world of Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS) and broaden your understanding of diversity and inclusion in Social Work! As a social work student, you have the opportunity to build a meaningful bridge to the Deaf community by learning ÖGS. Immerse yourself in a rich culture and learn this visual and fully-fledged language!

Creativity

“If there were only one truth, you couldn’t paint a hundred pictures on the same subject,” as Pablo Picasso once said.

Creativity is an essential component of the social work approach, enabling us to connect with people and build relationships in a wide variety of ways. Across the various fields of social work, we regularly rely on creative methods, which are often particularly effective when conventional approaches fall short. These creative methods open up new avenues for connecting with people, even in situations where trust is hard to establish. They make it possible to build connections based on genuineness and authenticity. That is why we offer various creative courses (music, theater, and photography/video) in which you can gain new perspectives on the field and develop the courage to explore innovative paths alongside traditional approaches.