The aim of this exploratory study was to assess whether practicing social workers currently enrolled in Master Social Work (MSW) programs (hereafter referred to as MSW students) were more oriented to the evidence-based practice (EBP) process and more engaged in it than practicing social workers who are not currently enrolled in MSW programs (hereafter referred to as social workers) in the Netherlands. Data were collected from MSW students (n = 32) and from social workers (n = 341) using the EBP Process Assessment Scale. MSW students reported a stronger orientation toward the EBP process, more positive attitudes toward EBP, more familiarity with EBP and more intentions to engage in EBP than social workers did, however, they were less positive about the feasibility of implementing EBP in practice. These preliminary results suggest that there are grounds for optimism about MSW students’ acceptance of and engagement in the EBP process. Implications for social work education are discussed.
Objectives: This study assesses social workers’ orientation toward the evidence-based practice (EBP) process and explores which specific variables (e.g. age) are associated. Methods: Data were collected from 341 Dutch social workers through an online survey which included a Dutch translation of the EBP Process Assessment Scale (EBPPAS), along with 13 background/demographic questions. Results: The overall level of orientation toward the EBP process is relatively low. Although respondents are slightly familiar with it and have slightly positive attitudes about it, their intentions to engage in it and their actual engagement are relatively low. Respondents who followed a course on the EBP process as a student are more oriented toward it than those who did not. Social workers under 29 are more familiar with the EBP process than those over 29. Conclusions: We recommend educators to take a more active role in teaching the EBP process to students and social workers.
Poster presentation at the European Social Work Research Conference - ESWRA, Aalborg, Denemarken, 20 april – 21 April In the last decade a call is made upon a stronger knowledge base for social work and an abiding professionalism of practice. Transformations in The Netherlands state welfare regime are amongst others a big impetus for this demand. Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) contribute substantially in answering this legitimation call. UAS in The Netherlands adopted a research function since 2000 and practice oriented research is prevailing in their type of reseach. Both fields, social work practice and social work research as conducted by UAS, are relatively new and are to a certain degree reinventing themselves. It makes practice oriented social work research a timely topic. This poster presents the outline and aim of the PhD research on how to optimise practice.
Designing cities that are socially sustainable has been a significant challenge until today. Lately, European Commission’s research agenda of Industy 5.0 has prioritised a sustainable, human-centric and resilient development over merely pursuing efficiency and productivity in societal transitions. The focus has been on searching for sustainable solutions to societal challenges, engaging part of the design industry. In architecture and urban design, whose common goal is to create a condition for human life, much effort was put into elevating the engineering process of physical space, making it more efficient. However, the natural process of social evolution has not been given priority in urban and architectural research on sustainable design. STEPS stems from the common interest of the project partners in accessible, diverse, and progressive public spaces, which is vital to socially sustainable urban development. The primary challenge lies in how to synthesise the standardised sustainable design techniques with unique social values of public space, propelling a transition from technical sustainability to social sustainability. Although a large number of social-oriented studies in urban design have been published in the academic domain, principles and guidelines that can be applied to practice are large missing. How can we generate operative principles guiding public space analysis and design to explore and achieve the social condition of sustainability, developing transferable ways of utilising research knowledge in design? STEPS will develop a design catalogue with operative principles guiding public space analysis and design. This will help designers apply cross-domain knowledge of social sustainability in practice.
De ingezette brede welvaart als maatschappelijke opgave vraagt om een inclusieve arbeidsmarkt en dwingt arbeidsmarktactoren daarvan werk te maken. Een inclusieve arbeidsmarkt is nodig vanwege de alsmaar veranderende arbeidsmarkt die vraagt om flexibiliteit, adaptiviteit en wendbaarheid van iedereen die wil en kan werken. Toch laat onderzoek naar de implementatie van de Wet banenafspraak bij de overheid zien dat doelen niet worden gehaald, stelt het SCP vast dat de huidige Participatiewet onvoldoende aansluit bij wat bijstandsgerechtigden nodig hebben en laat UWV-onderzoek zien dat er nog te veel mensen aan de zijlijn staan. Om doelgroepen met een ondersteuningsbehoefte volwaardig te kunnen includeren op de arbeidsmarkt, is betere samenwerking nodig tussen (professionals van) arbeidsmarktactoren van gemeenten, UWV, arbeidsorganisaties/werkgevers, sociale partners, kennisinstellingen en ervaringsdeskundigen. Het SPRONG-programma All4Talent richt zich op arbeidsmarktprofessionals, arbeidsorganisaties en samenwerkingsverbanden die er alles aan willen doen om een inclusieve arbeidsmarkt te realiseren, in bijzonder voor doelgroepen met een - al dan niet specifieke - ondersteuningsbehoefte. Het consortium heeft de ambitie om een ‘All4Talent-toolbox’ te ontwikkelen, die bestaat uit nieuwe kennis, best practices, producten en diensten alsook andere vormen van samenwerking. Met die toolbox zijn zowel publiek als private arbeidsmarktprofessionals (changemakers) beter in staat om barrières weg te nemen die arbeidsinclusie in de weg staan. All4Talent wordt uitgevoerd door de SPRONG-groep Hogeschool Arnhem Nijmegen, Hogeschool Utrecht en Hogeschool Windesheim die al langjarig en stevig met elkaar zijn verbonden én consortiumpartners uit verschillende Arbeidsmarktregio’s die dezelfde ambities en doelen nastreven. All4Talent gaat in deze Arbeidsmarktregio’s fungeren als regisseur van alle inclusievraagstukken op de vier belangrijke transitiedomeinen van de arbeidsmarkt, namelijk: school-werk, arbeidsbeperkt-werk, werkloos-werk, niet-werkend naar werk en school-werk. De onderzoeksinfrastructuur wordt gevormd door leergemeenschappen: onbenut arbeidspotentieel, inclusieve organisaties, inclusieve arbeidsmarkt, wendbare professionals en inclusieve technologieën waarlangs nieuwe kennis in projecten wordt ontwikkeld. All4Talent-sluit aan bij de KIA Maatschappelijk Verdienvermogen.
Due to the existing pressure for a more rational use of the water, many public managers and industries have to re-think/adapt their processes towards a more circular approach. Such pressure is even more critical in the Rio Doce region, Minas Gerais, due to the large environmental accident occurred in 2015. Cenibra (pulp mill) is an example of such industries due to the fact that it is situated in the river basin and that it has a water demanding process. The current proposal is meant as an academic and engineering study to propose possible solutions to decrease the total water consumption of the mill and, thus, decrease the total stress on the Rio Doce basin. The work will be divided in three working packages, namely: (i) evaluation (modelling) of the mill process and water balance (ii) application and operation of a pilot scale wastewater treatment plant (iii) analysis of the impacts caused by the improvement of the process. The second work package will also be conducted (in parallel) with a lab scale setup in The Netherlands to allow fast adjustments and broaden evaluation of the setup/process performance. The actions will focus on reducing the mill total water consumption in 20%.