CONFERENCE REPORT: THE FIRST SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL PEDAGOGY - SOCIAL COHESION IN SOCIAL PROTECTION

Abstract

The first School of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, titled Social Cohesion in Social Protection, was held in Vitez from 15 th to 18 th of December, 2024. Its primary aim was to strengthen the competencies of professionals in the field of social protection, promote interdisciplinary cooperation, and develop innovative approaches in working with vulnerable populations. The event, organized by PONTEM - the National Association for Social Pedagogy in BiH, in partnership with the Association of Social Workers of Sarajevo Canton and supported by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, gathered experts, practitioners, and researchers from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The school addressed contemporary challenges in social protection, such as mixed migration, unaccompanied children, victims of human trafficking, and returnees foreign terrorist fighters and their families. Evaluations highlighted the high relevance of topics and the need for continuous focus on supervision, professional identity, research of practice and practical solutions to support the development of social pedagogy and social work.