The Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Westphalia (KATHO) and Pázmány Péter Catholic University (PPKE) are joining forces to focus on the fields of social pedagogy and social work.
Prof. Dr. Nándor Birher, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Pázmány Péter Catholic University invited a delegation of 10 social work students led by Prof. Dr. Johannes Nathschläger to foster collaborative learning and encourage knowledge exchange.
The delegation from KATHO (https://katho-nrw.de/en/university) took part in a professional program between May 4 and 8. The event was organized by PPKE, specifically by the Department of Social Pedagogy within the Institute of Care Politics, in cooperation with professional partner institutions. The guests were welcomed by Prof. Dr. Nándor Birher, Dean of the Faculty, followed by the faculty members and students of the Department of Social Pedagogy.
As part of the Budapest program, the delegation members participated in joint lectures and related seminars in English, organized together with the faculty and students of the Department of Social Pedagogy. They also took part in site visits to professional partner institutions and community events.
In his presentations, Prof. Dr. Johannes Nathschläger highlighted the current situation and prospects of young adults in Europe, the contemporary challenges facing social work in Germany, and the role and significance of existential social work as well as child and youth work. Dr. habil. Gábor Juhász, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Social Pedagogy, spoke about child-friendly institutions from the perspective of the domestic child protection system. Dr. Szabolcs Fekete, Assistant Professor discussed the digitalization of social services along with related ethical and professional issues, while András Szabó, Assistant Lecturer gave a presentation on addiction disorders and addiction care in Hungary. During the institutional visits, the German delegation gained valuable insights into the work of institutions such as the "Válaszút Misszió" Drug Consultation Office of the Hungarian Reformed Church, the Salvation Army’s "Fény Háza" (House of Light) Mother's Home, the Óbuda Rehabilitation and Employment Center, and the German-Hungarian Youth Office.
The Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Westphalia in Münster was founded in 1971 through the merger of several higher education institutions specializing in social work, social pedagogy, and special education, and a theology institute under the sponsorship of the Catholic Church. Operating across four campuses—Aachen, Cologne, Münster, and Paderborn—the university currently has more than 5,000 students and a teaching staff of nearly 400. Each of these campuses has a social work department. Their program has integrated the theoretical and practical elements and characteristics of social pedagogy. KATHO cooperates with dozens of partner universities worldwide.
During the Budapest program partners also discussed future opportunities for cooperation including the joint organization of "International Week" programs, German-Hungarian student and faculty exchanges, joint teaching, research, and curriculum development, as well as the implementation of further professional, community, and cultural programs.
Source: Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
