International Social Welfare and Social Development (Taught)

This course focuses on social issues with an international dimension such as humanitarian aid, forced migration, human rights, social justice and social enterprise. In addition to gaining theoretical knowledge, you develop practical skills – such as advocacy and intercultural competence – so you can work effectively with communities and individuals from diverse cultural and social backgrounds, in the UK and abroad. The course also exposes you to innovative approaches to enhancing and decolonising international social welfare and development, with case studies from across the globe.

For further course information, contact course coordinator Dr Lena Opfermann at lena.opfermann@beds.ac.uk

Industry links
We collaborate with the University's Refugee Legal Assistance Project (RLAP), supporting refugees with family reunification applications.

Your student experience

• Highly interactive, student-centred learning with in-class debates, role plays and weekly presentations applying course work to current affairs.

• Learn from an industry-experienced, research-active academic team, producing high-quality research that influences policy making and improves the protection of vulnerable migrants.

• Get first-hand experience of the situation of asylum seekers through a field visit to the Luton City of Sanctuary network.

• Expand your knowledge through guest lecturers with global work and research experience, teaching on topics such as public health in emergencies; humanitarian sanitation; and the relationship between climate change and international social work.