WE INVITE YOU TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
A Master’s Degree in Social Work with
a focus on the Middle East
A Master’s Degree in Social Work with a focus on
the Middle East
Maybe you are a social worker or active in the Middle
East working with different kinds of social problems.
What is your current role?
• Working in a social institution?
• Working with social projects?
• Employed by the state to carry out social
services?
• Designing social work interventions for
different target groups?
• Active in a Civil Society Organization?
• Member of a Welfare Association linked to a
Religious Community?
• Social entrepreneur in a company active in
Social economy or similar?
Ersta Sköndal University College (ESUC) is located in
Stockholm, the capital of Sweden in Northern Europe.
Our School of Social Work is ranked among the best in
the country. Sweden is a top destination for academic
studies, with a well-developed Welfare State and Civil
Society, a multi-cultural society with close connections to
the Middle East, its people and communities.
For more information about what we can offer you, see
www.esh.se/en.html.
Master Courses designed for you!
We are offering a tailor-made Master of Science (MSc)
in Social Work (60 ECTS, one year), with a focus on
the Middle East. Eligible are students and professionals
who have passed successfully the BSc of Social Work or
any equivalent degrees in related Human and/or Social
Sciences. This professional Master Program is designed
for people who are currently working, or with work
experience, in the areas of Social Work. The idea of this
Master is to enable mainly professional social workers and
people with some work experience in relating social fields,
access to first class academic education with methods,
concepts and modules suitable for their needs.
A comprehensive approach based on
Problem Based Learning (PBL)
Traditionally, academic students would study subjects
relating to specific scientific disciplines with the risk
of not understanding social phenomena in a wider
and more comprehensive way. PBL is a method which
invites students to bring knowledge in a participatory
way, relating to specific problems. Social issues and
problems will be analysed with reference to theory,
context, methods, case-studies, by enhanced interaction
between the students and their teachers and taking into
consideration events, challenges and opportunities from
Europe, the Middle East and beyond.
Why Ersta Sköndal University College and
Sweden?
Sweden has developed a well-known social welfaremodel with a unique combination of collaboration and
partnership between the public, the private and the notfor profit (Civil Society) sectors. The strength of this
model is the benefits for its citizens with a high-quality
and tangible output of social services and a right-based
approach, regulating the social and human rights. Within
this particular context, the development of the profession
of social workers has been an important priority, as well
as the academisation of a relative new discipline, with
possibilities of research and the enhancement of scientific
knowledge in human change processes, on the individual,
community and structural levels.
Our conviction, as professional social workers,
practitioners and scholars, is that our experiences and
knowledge acquired through the Swedish experience
(or model) can’t be “exported”, without taking into
consideration the specificities of the cultural, religious,
political and social contexts of our partners and
potential target groups in the recipient country. Hence,
a participatory approach, building on mutual respect and
dignity is at the core of the academic partnership that
we are suggesting. We will deliver a value-based degree
program which is unique in its content and which will
prepare social workers and social leaders for current and
future challenges.
At Ersta Sköndal University College we have been
involved in teaching social work and nursing, as well
as a commitment for the vulnerable and disadvantaged
since the mid-1800. You will be connected with a faculty
of professors, lecturers and researchers who are ranked
among the best in their respective disciplines. Our
two campuses are situated in Stockholm, the capital of
Sweden. We have developed a wide range of networks
and contacts with different governmental agencies, social
service centres, Non-Governmental Organizations for
placements, field-studies and possible employment for
future ESUC-students.
Our Master in Social Work is being built up
by three Modules, Practice and Thesis Work
(60 ECTS):
Module 1: Focus on Clients, Users &
Communities, 10 ECTS
How do we define and view clients, users, patients and
communities which are targeted for specific or general
social interventions?
In this module we are putting Human Beings and
Communities first, understanding human and social
behaviour from different scientific perspectives.
Module 2: Contexts & Systems, 10 ECTS
Certain social programs and welfare interventions might
not work in different cultural and social contexts. Why?
What are the enabling factors that could lead to social
interventions which are perceived as relevant by the
concerned stakeholders? In this module we would study
the different contexts and systems which are essential for
the success of carrying out social services, programs and
interventions.
relating to the Middle East and beyond. The students will
study these methods, with some elective courses and also
combine it with field practice.
Social & Field Practice (SFP) and Thesis Work
The SFP will take place with clients, users and/or
communities in Civil Society Organisations, Public
entities or private companies carrying out social work
interventions. 10 ECTS.
Thesis Work: 15 ECTS.
Welcome to the Ersta Sköndal Master’s Degree in
Social Work (MSW) with a focus on the Middle
East at Ersta Sköndal University College, Sweden!
In this module different social intervention methods
will be introduced, linked to specific social problems,
www.esh.se/en.html
Here is a sample and summary of the Master Courses:
Course 1
Clients, Users and Citizen Participation in Social Work 4 ECTS
Course 2User Participation 3 ECTS
Course 3
Community Development 3 ECTS
Course 4
Welfare Provision in a Comparative Perspective
4 ECTS
Course 5
Culture and Religion 3 ECTS
Course 6Civil Society 3 ECTS
Course 7
Focus 1: The individual, Counselling 10 ECTS (elective)
Course 8
Focus 2: Group, Group Interventions & Community Work 5 ECTS (elective)
Course 9
Focus 3: Structural, Advocacy 5 ECTS (elective)
Course 10
Project & Change Management 5 ECTS (elective)
Course 11
Social Field Practice (with Supervision) 10 ECTS
Thesis Final Exam Paper
15 ECTS
Photos: Markus Crépin Sundström, Jann Lipka, Ann Ek
Module 3: Methods & Programs, 15 ECTS
How can we use different kinds of evidence- and
experience based methods for social interventions on the
individual, group and structural levels?
Are you interested in applying?
Please contact Johan Gärde, PhD, International
Coordinator: [email protected]
Ersta Sköndal University College
P.O. Box 441
SE-128 06 Stockholm
Sweden