The Institute for Social Work Research and Cooperative Knowledge Creation examines professional action in the various fields of social work and how such action can be further developed. On the one hand, we focus on furnishing theoretical fundamentals and empirical evidence, for instance how social conditions are constituted and which organisational structures direct social work. On the other hand, we endeavour to cooperate with practitioners to transfer these insights into development processes.

To achieve this objective, the Institute has developed a procedure known as the “Practice-Optimising-Cycle” to successfully organise direct transfer processes. One of our core focus areas is thus impact research and evaluation. We are the leading centre for evidence-based social work in Switzerland, with an international outreach and network.

Our Institute is dedicated to expanding the social work knowledge base. We are committed to pursuing this guiding objective in cooperation with social work practice, thereby striving to make a decisive contribution to the innovation of social work and to enhancing its problem-solving capacity. Our staff aims to devise a sophisticated insights-and-application procedure. Once available, this tool will comprise the necessary fundamentals (under development), and enable cooperative knowledge creation with the field, concomitant implementation in practice, and the scientific application of the insights gained.

Our staff brings its expertise to the BA / MA Social Work modules. We work with social work field partners and practitioners interested in modernising and professionalising their work and who intend to gain scientific insights and implement these in their professional practice. We also offer a range of continuing education opportunities. We continuously update and further develop our courses by interlocking research and practice, thereby rendering such provision both innovative and closely aligned with practice.

Contact
Head of Institute
Prof. Dr. Edgar Baumgartner
T +41 62 311 96 42
edgar.baumgartner@fhnw.ch

Institute Office
Prisca Herzog
T +41 62 311 96 37
prisca.herzog@fhnw.ch

Read more about the Institute for Social Work Research and Cooperative Knowledge Creation.