In September 25, 2020, an International social work conference “Humaneness, Social Work, XXI century” was held at Klaipeda University (Lithuania), celebrating 25 years of Social work department. Rector of Latvian Christian academy prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane participated in the plenary session with the presentation “Client-focused Caritative Social work in the Risk Society Today”.
The 6th volume of Proceedings of Latvian Christian Academy was published in September 23, 2020, its guideline is “Client and Human Dignity”. Articles are written by researchers and practitioners in the filed of Caritative social work from Germany, Finland, Lithuania and Latvia. Our University specializes in client-focused social work onto which the current volume presents insightful opinions. Editor-in-Chief of the Proceedings prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane, Rector of Latvian Christian academy, argues “the need for active and powerful impulse from anthropological innovation for further development of social work as an academic discipline”.
Rector of LChrA prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane attended the annual RENOVABIS Congress in September 8-10, 2020 (online). Cooperation models between the Church and educational institutions were discussed. RENOVABIS is a solidarity initiative of the German Catholics with the people in Central and Eastern Europe; Latvian Christian academy is parnering with RENOVABIS since late 1990-ies.
Latvian Christian academy launches strategic partnership research on September 1-3, 2020 in cooperation with Social work experts from Malmo University (Sweden), University of Warsaw and University of Bialystok (Poland), and Klaipeda University (Lithuania). The overall goal of the partnership research is to promote the innovative development of Social work profession within the EU context. The work will go on two more years when strategic guidelines for EU universities offering social work study programmes will be presented aiming at Social work with young people. The new guidelines will comply with EC Social Agenda, and upgraded and innovative, European approach to clients will be introduced. A special course module along with the study material will be worked out. The basis for current discussions is discourse “SP-YOUNG Discourse of Cross-Border Situation”, published by prof. Skaidrīts Gūtmane, Rector of Latvian Christian academy. She worked on the publication whole last year and now it is available for further steps of the partnership project.
Reserach by prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane “Caritative Social work as Innovation from Antiquity” was published in Proceedings of Kolping University of Applied Sciences “Challenges and social responsibility in business”, Lithuania, June, 2020, pp. 22-40. EBSCO data base.
Online meeting with “Initiatives of Christians in Europe” (IXE-Group) was held in June, 2020 and activities related to the Europe Day (May 9) were discussed. Latvian Christian academy is member of the network since 2005.
In May 21-23, 2020, Latvian Christian academy hosted international seminar “Life-Long Learning for Increasing Labour Participation and Inclusive Work-Life in the Baltic States against the Background of Other EU countries”. The seminar was organized in cooperation with European Center for Workers’ Questions (EZA, Germany). Due to Civid-19 restrictions only speakers from the Baltic States were able to travel, whereas all participants and speakers from Germany and Poland were connected via ZOOM. The seminar was introduced by Mrs Sigrid Schraml, Secretary General of EZA. Among the speakers were H.U.Nordhaus ( EZA expert from German Trade Union Federation DGB), Agnieszka Piasecka-Robak (University of Lower Silesia, Wroclaw, Poland), Elvyra Aciene (Klaipeda University, Honorary president of Association of Lithuanian Social Work Universities, Lithuania), Aimar Altosaar (President of “The Golden League” NGO, Estonia), Pēteris Krīgers (member of (European Economic and Social Committee), Baiba Rivža (Vice-president of Latvian Academy of Sciences), Sarmīte Pīlāte (Director Latvian Adult Education Association, Latvia). The seminar was hosted by Skaidrīte Gūtmane, Rector of Latvian Christian academy.
Important for all students and educators!
Latvian Christian academy in cooperation with EZA (European Center for Workers’ Questions, EC – Germany) hosts international seminar “Life-Long learning for Increasing Labour Participation and Inclusive Work-Life in the Baltic States against the Background of the Other EU Countries” will be hosted by Latvian Christian academy in May 21-23, 2020.
Key topics of the seminar:
Life-long learning in Latvia and Europe after Covid-19? Why life-long learning matters? Why European Commission has emphasized the issue in the context of formal and non-formal education? What are criteria for that type of education?
Experts in higher education and life-long learning from
Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia will be speakers at the seminar.
Latvian Christian academy is member of the Semaines Sociales de France think-tank IXE-group. This organization is guided by recognition of common European values which were put in writing by on the European Founding Fathers Robert Schumann (1886-1963). Commemorating 70 years of the Schuman Declaration on 9th May “Zentralkomitee der deutschen Katholiken: and SSF have published Declaration available here.
R.Schumann insisted that joint labors of European citizens must be aimed at solidarity since only then we can work for peace and well-being in our continent. “The spirit of EU is a spirit of solidarity,” R.Schumann wrote, adding: “national activities should be taken within the context of interpersonal, international and global context.”
Consequently, individual attitudes must be changed and Christian social teaching must be used as foundation to promote respect and protection of every person for the benefit of common well-being.
An international seminar (online) for students “European Sacred Art Heritage for Social Europe of Hope” was hosted by Latvian Christian Academy in March 20, 2020. Art department students presented four reports which won special Award in the Competition “Best Research paper in 2019”. The seminar was attended by Klaipeda Art College (LT), Orthodox Academy of Crete (GR) with presentations on Ecology issues reflected in Art.