Refugee Children and Families in Europe: Social Work and Counselling

Persecution, conflicts and human rights violations continue to force people to flee their homes and seek safety in Europe. Many families with children or unaccompanied minors risk their lives to find a new life in European countries. These families and children do not only need a safe haven, housing, access to schooling and health services, many of them also need assistance to overcome the separation of their family and the consequences of violence and abuse, which they experienced in their country of origin or during the journey. Parents and especially children show a remarkable resilience in coping with difficult situations and trauma. Social workers and counsellors have the important task to strengthen this resilience and to support the recovery of families and children after forced migration.

This two-week summer course introduces key issues in social work and counselling for refugee families and children to students and professionals. Participants will get a thorough theoretical basis in lectures and workshops offered by specialized psychologists and social scientists. Field visits of organisations working with refugee families and children will confront the participants with relevant methodologies and how to apply them in this context.

Course leader

International Undergraduate Summer School organised by the University College Odisee Brussels in partnership with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Fachhochschule) Dortmund, Grupo de Investigación en Psicología Comunitaria of the Pontificia Uni

Target group

Undergraduate students (2nd, 3rd and 4th grade) of social work, social sciences, applied psychology, anthropology, counselling, health sciences, education… who want to develop a broader view on social work and counselling work with refugee families and children, both on a theoretical and methodological level.

The number of participants for the complete programme will be limited to 50 students.

Course aim

Learning results

• Students have enlarged their insight in the problems of refugees in Europe from a political and sociological point of view.
• Students have enlarged their knowledge and understanding of European en international (non-governmental) organisations who are occupied with refugee families and children
• Students have reached in-depth insight in trauma and resilience of refugee families and children.
• Students have strengthened their knowledge and competencies in social work and counselling with refugee families and children in different contexts such as reception and integration initiatives.
• Students have reached an insight in counselling methods for non accompanied minors.
• Students have developed their competencies in the field of intercultural communication and oral communication in English.

Credits info

3 EC
In order to receive the ECTS-points, there is a mandatory presence on all parts of the programme and a paper to be handed in at the end of August.

Fee info

EUR 250: 250 euro without lodgment (lunches and visits included)
EUR 620: 620 euro with lodgment in a hostel (rooms for 4 persons)
breakfast, lunches and visits included

Scholarships

students of Erasmus+-partners of University College Odisee will get a reduction on the fee.