23

June

Leeds Beckett University

ECSWE Leeds 2027

23, 24, 25 June 2027

Welcome to Leeds

Leeds Beckett University is delighted to invite submissions for the 2027 European Conference of Social Work Education. The conference will bring together social work educators, researchers, practitioners, students, service users, community partners, and policy-makers from across Europe and beyond to engage in critical dialogue about the future of social work education and practice.

At a time of profound social, political, environmental, and technological change, social work faces new challenges and opportunities. ECSWE 2027 provides a vibrant international forum to explore how social work education can respond creatively and critically to these developments while remaining firmly grounded in the principles of solidarity, social justice, human rights, democracy, and care.

Conference Theme

Reimagining Social Work Education: Solidarity, Justice, and Care in a Changing World

Across Europe and globally, communities are confronting interconnected challenges, including climate change, displacement and migration, widening inequalities, democratic erosion, racism, conflict, and social fragmentation. These realities raise urgent questions about the future of social work and the education of future practitioners.

The conference seeks to explore questions such as:

  • What does it mean to educate social workers in times of intersecting crises?
  • How can social work education defend and advance human rights, democracy, and social justice?
  • Whose knowledge counts in social work education?
  • How can we strengthen collective action, solidarity, and community participation?
  • What role should social work play in creating more equitable and sustainable futures?
Read the full theme and sub-themes

Conference Sub-Themes

What we'll explore in Leeds

Digital Transitions in Education, Care and Practice

How digital technologies are reshaping social work education and practice.

Co-production of Knowledge and Education

Meaningful collaboration between educators, students, service users, carers, communities, and practitioners.

Strengthening Human Rights and Democracy through Social Work

Promoting dignity, participation, inclusion, and justice through social work education.

Mental Health, Self-Care and Well-being in Social Work Education

Resilience, wellbeing, and sustainable professional development.

Decolonising Social Work Education and Practice

Anti-racist approaches, global knowledges, and curriculum transformation.

Social Work, Solidarity and Activism in a Time of Crisis

Collective action and social transformation in response to contemporary challenges.

Join Us in Leeds

ECSWE 2027 offers an opportunity to strengthen international collaboration, share innovative ideas, challenge assumptions, and collectively imagine new possibilities for social work education in a rapidly changing world.

We look forward to welcoming colleagues, students, practitioners, service users, and community partners to Leeds Beckett University for what promises to be an inspiring and thought-provoking conference.

Submit your abstract and join the conversation on reimagining social work education for a more just, democratic, and caring future.

Read the call for abstracts

Hosted by

Leeds Beckett University

School of Community Health and Social Work — in partnership with the European Association of Schools of Social Work (EASSW) and a network of social work educators, practitioners, students, service users, and community organisations from across Europe.

Key Note Speakers

Conference Speakers

To Be Announced

Keynote Speaker

To Be Announced

Keynote Speaker

To Be Announced

Keynote Speaker

Get in Touch

Have a question about ECSWE Leeds 2027 — the programme, submissions, registration or the venue? Send us a message and we'll get back to you.