Several of the 60 students from universities in France, Germany and Switzerland who participated in the RECOS seminar in May gathered for this group photo in Todtmoos, Germany. Syracuse University representatives at the seminar were Kristin Esposito (second row, far left) and Jennifer Carter (second row, fourth from left).
Alsace is a region in northeastern France bordering Germany and Switzerland and reflects a mix of cultures as over the centuries it has alternated between German and French control.
It seems unlikely that an American university will have an impact on social change. However, for 16 years, the School of Social Work in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics played a key role in helping to shape the region’s future social workers.
From 2008 to 2022, Professor Emeritus of Social Work Nancy Mudrick presented during the annual Confederation of Higher Schools in Social Work of the region, which translates as Confederation of Universities in Social Sciences of the Region (Alsace) and uses the acronym RECOS. Assistant Director of the School of Social Work, Master of Social Work, Online Field Director Kristin Espositowho had presented virtually under Mudrick’s tutelage in 2021-2022, took over from Mudrick last May and presented in person at the seminar in Todtmoos, Germany.
Esposito was joined at the seminar by online Master of Social Work (MSW) student Jennifer Carter, who currently lives in Germany. Around 60 social work students from six universities in the Alsace region (three from France, two from Germany and one from Switzerland) participated in the week-long seminar and traveled daily to another country to learn how social protection and social policy are played out in social service organizations in these countries.
Before the COVID pandemic, Mudrick took six to eight students from his course Social Work in Europe and the United States: A Four Nations Experiential Comparison Class to seminary and shared his social work experiences from an American perspective. With Mudrick’s retirement and now that the seminar has returned to an in-person format, Esposito is looking to reinvent the SWK 710 course and offer residential and online MSW students the opportunity to attend the seminar.
“The purpose of Syracuse University students’ presence and participation in RECOS is multifaceted,” Esposito says. “The School of Social Work believes in providing our students with experiential opportunities, and the RECOS seminar provides global exposure to the profession and highlights the ways in which work policy and practice social may differ from those in the U.S. Students often come back with new techniques, ideas, and strategies to engage a certain population.
“Another important takeaway for our students is the appreciation of the cultural and social aspects of how France, Germany and Switzerland perceive social problems, where resources are allocated and how social work is operationalized in these areas,” adds Esposito. “Finally, there is the cultural immersion experience as our students are exposed to the food, music, relationships and architecture of three countries.”
Although she was the only American student at the seminar, Carter says the European students were “friendly and welcoming” and appreciated the opportunity to interact with Carter to practice their English.
“It was interesting to work on different projects with the other students; we all went to classes together, ate together, and at the end of the day we got to have fun together,” says Carter, who is on track to graduate with a master’s degree in May. “We are all similar in that we want to help others and advocate for change, especially among vulnerable and marginalized populations. »
Universal need for social work
The SWK 710 course was launched after an MSW School of Social Work graduate invited Mudrick to RECOS as a guest speaker. Mudrick discovered the unique ways in which social work is practiced in the Alsace region, where each country’s policies and practices were different, but they shared the same staff because, for example, a social worker living in Germany could work in France .
Kristin Esposito (left) and Jennifer Carter represented Syracuse University at the 2023 RECOS seminar.
The seminar allows social work students in the region to gain common knowledge and understanding of each country’s policies and practices and improve their employability after graduation. Since Mudrick attended his first seminar in 2008, the School of Social Work has been invited annually to provide an American perspective on seminar topics such as the harm reduction model in substance abuse treatment, care-centered on the person in social work and for the 2023 edition. seminar, incarceration and rehabilitation of minors.
Each day of the 2023 seminar focused on a different country, with experiential breakout sessions in the morning followed by a presentation from a community expert in the field of incarceration. In the afternoon, the students traveled to the country to visit a partner agency specializing in incarceration, prevention and rehabilitation. Last spring, students traveled to Mulhouse, France; Freiburg, Germany; and Basel, Switzerland.
Esposito’s presentation at the seminar focused on the U.S. juvenile justice system and policies and best practices that promote successful rehabilitation and reentry. Esposito says what stood out to him during the seminar was the common need for social work in all countries.
“We all have universal human needs, struggles, and approaches to solving problems in our communities,” Esposito says. “The way social work is operationalized in these three countries is similar to the way we practice social work in the United States, and I was surprised to find that our solutions to problems were very parallel and the types of programs and support were about the same. minus name and title differences in programming. Our differences lie in cultural nuances.
As a student participant, Carter attended all scheduled lectures and field trips and collaborated with other students in small groups. Carter said it was fascinating to see how the juvenile justice system works in the three countries.
“I thought Germany would have a tougher stance on crimes in the juvenile justice system with a more punitive model of justice, but it was France that seemed to have a more repressive model,” says Carter . “The current German juvenile system focuses on education and diversion strategies rather than punishment.”
“Once in a lifetime” experience
Next year’s seminar will take place from May 12 to 24 and will focus on the theme “Sex and Social Work”.
“The RECOS team meets to discuss ideas regarding sex work, sex trafficking, and sexual abuse and trauma work,” says Esposito. “I have been invited again to participate and present and hope to recruit more students in the spring.”
Jennifer Carter (center) with two seminary students along the Rhine in France
Carter, a Schenectady, N.Y., native who earned her undergraduate degree from Ashford University in Arizona, says she came away from the seminar feeling “enlightened” by the dialogue with students from other countries and by discovering the similarities and differences in social work between these countries and the US
“While their justice systems are all unique in their own way, the recurring theme that stood out to me is that no matter where they live, racial minorities and particularly immigrants seem to be the most likely to receive punitive sanctions within their country. the justice system and less likely to have appropriate access to therapeutic interventions,” she says.
“Learning about the juvenile justice systems in these three countries and attending Kristin’s presentation in the United States added fuel to the fire that was already starting with my desire to work with adolescents and young adults in the future “, adds Carter. “These young people may benefit from greater social support and preventative therapeutic interventions to guide their future life trajectory instead of a punitive approach favored by society. »
For social work students considering this trip, Carter says it is a “unique experience” that will help shape their career path.
“If you love traveling, exploring different cultures, cuisines and histories, and interacting with people of different backgrounds and ethnicities, this trip offers all that and more,” says Carter.
Visit the School of Social Work webpage to learn more about academic programs, experiential learning, and career opportunities for residential and online students.
