Mid Sweden University

One of the major challenges involved in social work education is how to create realistic environments in which students can practice necessary skills without risking the welfare of clients. Different types of simulations, such as case-based learning and role-play, have been used for many years to enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the processes and challenges involved in professional social work. However, the possibility of using computer-based simulations has not yet been explored in any depth. This study will present an on-going project that aims to create a computer based simulation through which students can gain a more realistic understanding of social workers' assessments of families and children at risk. ICT applications are often employed in this type of assessment today. In spite of attempts to use these methods to achieve a better structure and organization of family and child assessments, European research indicates that large discrepancies remain between assessments made by different social workers. The aim of our development project for social work training is to create a computer based simulation that will give students greater understanding of the assessment process and the tools available, as well as encouraging them to make a critical appraisal of the different phases of an assessment.

Människors frihet att utöva sin religion är en av de grundläggande fri- och rättigheterna i Sverige. Med denna kunskapsöversikt studeras muslimers möjligheter att i Sverige och övriga Västeuropa kunna utöva sin religion utan att bli utsatta för negativ behandling och hatnrott. Översikten är ett försök att sammanfatta och kritiskt värdera svensk och europeisk forskning men är också ett försök att besvara frågor om hur samhällsvetenskaplig forskning kan användas för att stärka religionsfriheten och motverka antireligiösa föromar och hatbrott.

This study is based on a nationwide survey of local Muslim congregations (n = 105) and focuses on the patterns and function of voluntary social work carried out by the congregations.Muslim congregations in Sweden are not only religious meeting places, but also social meeting places and centres for the organisation of a broad range of social welfare services: outreach activities, support to newly arrived immigrants and activities for children and young people. The work is carried out on a voluntary basis at the intersection between the congregation and the community. Muslim voluntary social work appears to be most intensive in smaller municipalities with a large amount of unemployment. The dominant discourse on Islam in Europe has claimed that Muslim social work is part of an attempt to create self-sufficient enclaves that impede the integration of Muslim immigrants into the wider society. Claims of this type seem, however, to be largely unfounded. The Swedish Muslim congregations that carry out the most voluntary social work are those most interested in co-operation with other organisations and with authorities of different types and those that have the most positive experiences of the wider society.