HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts

Having an international and interdisciplinary outlook is an essential part of the degree programmes offered by the Faculty of Social Work and Health. To foster this, HOGENT in Ghent, Belgium, and the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, the Netherlands, have collaborated with the Faculty of Social Work and Health at HAWK in Hildesheim, since 2012. For over a decade, two-day workshops on Community Development in Health and Social Care have been an annual feature of an elective module in the bachelor's degree programme in Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Physiotherapy.

The programme was also open to students of Social Work. The BIP offers a blended learning model, incorporating a virtual component to prepare and support participants before they engage in an in-person, one-week mobility phase at a partner university. During this phase, students engage in collaborative learning experiences. In October 2024, sixteen students began their preparation for this phase in Ghent with professors Sandra Schiller and Corinna Ehlers.

In October 2024, 16 students started prepared for their participation in the one-week mobility phase in Ghent with Prof. Dr. Sandra Schiller and Prof. Dr. Corinna Ehlers. The preparation for the mobility phase included online meetings and collaborative work among students and faculty from five degree programs: Occupational Therapy, Exercise Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Social Work. Students engaged in both synchronous and asynchronous tasks within international groups. The on-site meeting took place at HOGENT, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, where 53 students from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Rwanda took part in the programme.

This week in Ghent from 25 to 29 November offered a diverse range of experiences:

By the exchange with over 60 participating students and colleagues, as well as other guest speakers and employees of service institutions from Ghent neighbourhoods and the city administration: the various activities gave rise to numerous professional discussions and conversations about cultural experiences. A highlight was the social dinner at Eetcafé Toreke, fostering deeper connections. (Photo 1: Students at the social dinner at the training and job creation project Eetcafé Toreke in the district Sluizeken-Tolhuis-Ham)

By the varied input at the university: the programme at the university not only offered guest lectures on various elements of community development, local and international practical experiences, but the students also worked on different topics in small groups and presented their own interprofessional ideas for cross-sectoral cooperation in a municipal context on the last day. (Photo 2 BIP lecture in the lecture hall at HOGENT)

By the campus and premises of HOGENT: It is always exciting to be at other universities and gain new impressions. Noteworthy features included a board games shelf in the foyer, promoting interactive learning, (photo 3 shelf in foyer) and an outdoor seminar space with a blackboard for teaching in good weather (photo 4 blackboard for outdoor teaching).

By activities and visits to institutions in the city of Ghent: As part of the BIP, we visited the Stadsmuseum Gent (STAM) to learn about the historical development of the city of Ghent and its different districts, took part in a tour of the district of Sluizeken-Tolhuis-Ham and visited various social organisations there, such as De Thuishaven: Service centre for senior citizens, De Sloep: Family support to vulnerable families with young children, City of Ghent: Asylum and Refugees Team, Urban Reception Initiative – Newcomers Vzw Jong: Youth Welfare Work.