On August 3, the graduation ceremony for the fourth and final cohort of the European Joint Master’s Programme “Social Work with Children and Youth” (ESWOCHY) was held at Iscte University in Lisbon.
During the ceremony, diplomas were awarded to 17 students from various countries around the world (Lithuania, Turkey, Spain, Greece, Italy, Canada, Israel, Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Colombia, and Zimbabwe). One of the programme’s key features is that the students studied in four different countries, and the joint diploma is recognized by all four participating universities.
Representatives from all four universities implementing the program (from Lithuania, Latvia, Portugal, and Slovakia) also attended the ceremony.
The program provided students not only with knowledge but also with essential skills, enabling them to participate in conferences, engage in social activities, and complete international internships. The program covered key areas of social work with children and youth. Students gained practical experience and knowledge that combined theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, comparative international research, policy development and the newest knowledge of using ICT in social work practice with children and youth.
The ever-changing world presents challenges. Various global crises, conflicts, migration, and social shifts encourage to search for ways to help children become more resilient. Social workers are a key factor in fostering stability, providing not only emotional support but also practical means to adapt to these situations. The multitude of emerging challenges also drive the annual demand for social work professionals. The social work profession requires not only professional knowledge and skills but also empathy, dedication, a desire to help others, and the ability to constantly adapt to ongoing changes.
"We were proud that each time we bid farewell to the cohorts, the future leaders are ready to work in international, intercultural environments and in the field of social work with children and youth. This program provided students not only with academic knowledge but also with many essential skills that will prove valuable in their work with children and young people and help them drive meaningful change," said Prof. Dr. Natalija Kaminskienė, Vice-Rector for Studies at MRU.
According to the Vice-Rector for Studies, the graduation of the fourth cohort also marked the successful conclusion of the six-year Erasmus Mundus project (2020–2026). Although the project has ended, the connections forged, the wonderful moments, and the shared values nurtured during this time, it will continue to unite and inspire us to create change.
ESWOCHY is an international joint master's program that has been running since 2020, implemented collaboratively by Mykolas Romeris University (Lithuania), Riga Stradins University (Latvia), Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon (Portugal), and the Catholic University in Ružomberok (Slovakia).
For more information about the program, please visit www.eswochy.eu.
