Social work with a focus on migration and diversity, dual study program

• Which (social) structures cause social disadvantage?
• What is the legal framework in the context of immigration?
• How can social discrimination, exclusion and ethnic ascription be dealt with?
• How can problems of social disadvantage and exclusion be solved?
• What are diversity-sensitive approaches in social work?
• What can migration-related social work achieve?

This mixed situation poses major challenges not only for those affected, but also for local authorities and employees in the education, health and social services sectors. The dual study program deals with, among other things, which social structures lead to social disadvantage, which legal frameworks exist around immigration and how problems related to discrimination, exclusion and ethnic attributions can be solved.

The practice-integrated dual study program lasts eight semesters and combines theory and practice particularly closely. Throughout the entire period, you will regularly alternate between the lecture hall and the workplace and put your academic knowledge from your studies directly into practice. During your studies, you will be employed by a social work provider, receive comprehensive support and financial remuneration. Half of the week is dedicated to your studies, the other half to your job.

You will learn which prerequisites are necessary for prejudice-conscious action. Both in practice and at university, you will examine the contribution that social work can make to overcoming individual and social problems that arise against the background of diversity and migration.

You will deal with issues relating to diversity and migration in all modules of the study program. In concrete terms, this also includes projecting the knowledge gained at the university as a learning location onto the practical learning location and vice versa.

The course includes modules from the disciplines of law, psychology, sociology and educational science. It qualifies you for all areas of social work (generalist degree) and teaches comprehensive migration education skills.

In addition to the basic content of social work studies, the course content includes diversity-sensitive approaches, migration-related social work, the development of diversity-sensitive attitudes and theories on social inequality.

After successfully completing the program, you will receive a Bachelor of Arts
(B.A.) "Social Work", as well as state recognition as a social worker in accordance with the Social Professions Recognition Act.

Social work creates and reacts to social changes. Current (social) tasks and phenomena are therefore dealt with in the degree program. The focus on migration and diversity of the practice-integrated study program results specifically from such challenges and attempts to respond to them in close cooperation with the employers.

In addition to the main focus of the course, it is also possible to specialize in migration law.

Graduates work, for example, in

• fields of activity that are directly related to diversity, migration and participation, e.g.
  • in integration agencies
  • Advice centers for migrants / immigration advice and refugee support
  • at educational institutions where the general higher education entrance qualification and
    university of applied sciences entrance qualification can be acquired retrospectively or who offer
    offer language courses
  • in counseling centers for prostitutes
  • in social services / offices (e.g. health authorities)
  • in job centers
• other fields of activity that are interested in addressing social problems
  social problems in the context of diversity, migration and participation, e.g.
  • in child, youth, family and elderly care
  • in probation and offender services
  • in schools
  • in vocational training and further education
  • in the area of services for people with impairments/disabilities
  • in social counseling/support
  • in qualification measures/education
  • in political social work
• all other fields of social work

• Overview of the Masters in the Faculty of Applied Social Studies(Opens in a new tab) 

A formal requirement for admission to the Bachelor of Social Work with a focus on migration and diversity at the Fachhochschule Dortmund is proof of a 50% part-time position (19 - 20 hours per week) with an employment agency in the field of social work with which the Fachhochschule Dortmund has concluded a framework agreement on dual university education (cooperation agreement).

Before applying for a place, applicants must therefore either

• already have a 50% part-time position (19-20 hours per week) with a social work organization or
• have found an organization that will employ them for the duration of their studies in a 50% part-time position (19-20 hours per week).

The provider must conclude or already have a so-called framework agreement with Fachhochschule Dortmund before applying for a study place. Before concluding the framework agreement and/or submitting the annexes to the agreement, it is always necessary for the course coordinator(Opens in a new tab)  to advise the sponsor and check the planned position(s). The establishment of positions that constitute a prerequisite for admission to the degree program can only take place with the approval of Fachhochschule Dortmund. Students cannot be admitted to the degree program without a framework agreement and/or the associated annexes and the approval of Fachhochschule Dortmund.

This framework agreement is only valid in its current version.

Content and formal requirements for recognition as an internship in the dual study program Social Work with a focus on Migration and Diversity can be found in the "Criteria for internships" section below.

The study program is admission-free and starts once a year in the winter semester with a cohort of 35 students.

In order to ensure this, close consultation is necessary between already cooperating and interested providers and the university of applied sciences. Students can only be admitted to the study program if the provider and the university of applied sciences have agreed on the number of students per provider and study cohort in advance (see § 1 of the framework agreement). The procedure for agreeing on requirements and capacity will be transparent and reliable, but will also offer opportunities for new providers to participate alongside existing providers.

• Providers who have already concluded a framework agreement can communicate their requirements (which may still be non-binding at this point) from November 1 to January 31.
• Subsequently, arrangements may be made between the sponsors and the university if capacity is exceeded at this time. At this point in time, the university of applied sciences will then provide binding feedback on the demand notifications.
• In the period from 01.02. to 31.03., this demand must be specified and bindingly communicated (if possible already with the data of the respective applicants).
• From 01.04. to 30.06. , the institutions submit the specific personal attachments to the framework agreement for their applicants (this is also possible from 01.02.). These annexes are only valid in the version of the respective cohort and are provided by the university of applied sciences as fillable PDF files.
• If no notification and agreement has been made in the above-mentioned first period from 01 .11. to 31.01., places can only be requested again from 01.04. if there is still free capacity (see procedure for institutions without a framework agreement).
  

• Interested new providers communicate their interest and a concrete need (number of places for the corresponding study cohort) from 01.11. without obligation.
• In the period up to 31.03., these providers will be regularly informed about the status of capacity agreements between already cooperating providers and the University of Applied Sciences.
• If there is free capacity, interested providers can request places for applicants from April 1st and conclude the framework agreement between the provider and the university of applied sciences.
  

• In the context of a pluralistic provider structure, there should be no more than 2 places per provider per study cohort or 4 per provider if they are placed in different departments, locations, etc.
• The quality standards specified in the framework agreement for practical placements in the dual Bachelor of Social Work with a focus on migration and diversity (content requirements for the activities, payment, guidance, etc.) are mandatory.
• No students can be admitted to the study program without the approval of the capacity agreements by the university of applied sciences.