1. Report Back of “The 7th European Conference for Social Work Research”
Tanni Hsu

2. What is “European Conference for Social Work Research” (ECSWR)
Annual conference which has been taken place in Europe since 2011
Aims at:
Sharing and debating research findings and ideas
Networking
Organizes by European Social Work Research Association and a local host committee

3. ECSWR 2017
April 19-21, 2017 (3 days)
Aalborg, Denmark

4. ECSWR 2017 (Cont’d)
April 19-21, 2017 (3 days)
Aalborg, Denmark

5. ECSWR 2017 (Cont’d)
Theme: Challenges in Social Work Research – Conflicts, Barriers and Possibilities in relation to Social Work
4 keynote speeches and 7 parallel sessions, with some pre-conference activities

6. ECSWR 2017 (Cont’d)
Keynote 1: Interviews and stories as descriptive events
Keynote 2: Social work research and accountable practice – Challenging dogma in uncertain times
Keynote 3: The productive human beings - or on the construction of alternatives in social work research
Keynote 4 : Complexities and dynamics of trans-disciplinary discipline – Challenges for research and community building

7. Observation 1: Academia-dominated Social Work Research in Europe
For the conference itself: 90% of the participants were scholars
For the research being presented: Limited involvement of frontline social workers
Research on Practice Dominating Model
Practice Research Emerging Model

8. Observation 2: Lack of Evidence about Latest Development of Practice Research in HK
Challenges of the information society
How do we come from data to information
From information to knowledge
From knowledge to meaning
From meaning to prediction
How shall we talk about meaning and prediction if we don’t even have data about the current situation of practice research in HK, e.g. percentage of social service agencies who conducts research

9. Observation 3: Importance of Qualitative Research being Realized in Europe and other Asian countries
Presentation of scholars from Taiwan: Qualitative research is very valuable which every student should learn it before becoming frontline social workers
Reflection on social work education in HK: To what extent efforts are made in teaching social work research and specifically qualitative research?
Social Work Education
Social Work Research
Qualitative Research

10. Ways forward
What coming next?

11. Culture change Evidence-based approach Garth Nowland Foreman (2011)
DIY training available
Templates, tools and resources
Clearinghouse of our research
Register of researchers, evaluators
Code of Practice
Student links
Meta-research ‘What Works’
Engaging funders
Forums to share research
Awards for community researchers
Awards for NGOs
Funding for community research
Culture change
Green: What our Council has been doing, including in-house training for agency members (one-off training and mentorship training), Forums and salons for sharing research, Engaging funders for service impact study and service development study /engaging funder for building up the capacity of agencies in doing practice research
Light Green: Areas we are developing, including website on resources and tools
Blue: Areas to be explored
Garth Nowland Foreman (2011)

12. Walk together and walk far
Salons
Showroom of good research
Knowledge and experience exchange
Welcome agencies to contact us direct
Agency visits
Government Departments
Universities
Other potential parties, e.g. Google, Microsoft
8th Conference cum Workshop

13. Thank you!