Info

The current pandemic has shown to not be the great equalizer, yet points more clearly than ever to existing and new societal inequalities penetrating the very fabric of our societies. While some have argued for the death of social work, as it would not be living up to its ideal of social justice and social change, others highlight the opportunity this current disturbance of the equilibrium offers to radicalize a social agenda. In any case, all over the world social work is being challenged to reposition itself in the face of a post-crisis struggle to maintain or challenge the reintroduction of a simple status quo.

In order to address this struggle, TiSSA invites experts from academic social work research, professional fields and policy to the TiSSA 2021 conference in Ghent, Belgium, to discuss the development of sustainable social work in the face of the challenges that the current pandemic and post-crisis struggle pose to societies and the field/discipline of social work itself.

Information about submitting your paper

Both individual papers and symposia will be accepted for submission. The individual papers are afterwards grouped into thematic sessions, if possible. Each accepted paper is given 20 minutes for presentation, followed by 10 minutes for discussion with the audience.

Submissions for an individual paper presentation should include a proposal of no more than 500 words or less, containing the following information: introduction to the research question(s), description of methods, results, brief discussion and implications. Conceptual and theoretical individual papers do not need to follow this structure. A reference list is not required for the submission.

Submissions for symposia include three to four papers on the same topic to be presented in the same session. When applying for a symposium, please submit an overall abstract of 1250 words or less describing the symposium theme and its importance, including an abstract of 300 words or less for each symposium paper. In the field of ‘Title of the abstract’, please type the title of the symposium. Preference will be given to symposia that demonstrate cohesiveness across presentations and to presentations strongly linked to the central of the conference. Symposia will be accepted or rejected as a whole, not in parts.

Pre-PhD Conference

When: 17 December  - 19 December 2021

For who: doctoral candidates

Abstract: max. 500 words, including introduction to research question(s), methodological framework, results, brief discussion and questions for supervisory panel.

Participation: only when your abstract is accepted

Deadline for submission: 1 october 2021

The Pre-PhD Conference provides a unique opportunity for doctoral candidates who conduct research in the overall field of social services and related social problems to present their results or work in progress. A board of professors of international standing will form a panel to comment on the presentations and will be available for any further guidance. The Pre-PhD Conference therefore offers a very valuable and exceptional occasion to engage in comprehensive networking with colleagues from other European and non-European countries. Important to emphasize is that the Pre-PhD Conference only accessible for doctoral candidates and is open for broad topics concerning social work that are not directly linked to the central topic of this years' conference. Presentations will be limited to maximum 20 minutes. 

The professors of the 2021 international supervisory panel, which will guide the PhD candidates and reflect upon their presentations will be announced later. 

Plenum Conference

When: 20 December  - 22 December  2021

For who: academics (researchers, PhD candidates) and non-academics (practitioners, policy makers and students)

Abstract: max. 500 words for individual presentations and 1250 for symposia

Participation: allowed without submission of abstract

Deadline for submission: 1 october 2021

The TiSSA Plenum Conference  also provides a unique opportunity for academics and non-academics from all over Europe who conduct research in the overall field of social services and related social problems to present their results reflecting practical experiences, empirical research, theoretical concerns and/or examples of resistance, conflict and alternates.

Conference venue

The 18th edition of the international 'social work & society' academy (TiSSA 2021) will be hosted by Ghent University, Belgium.  You can find the conference venue on Google Maps or you can look up the address:

Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium