In 2019, the Ukrainian-Canadian partnership cooperation in the field of Social Work and Social Work professional education celebrated its jubilee. Thus, on October 24-29, 2019, Lviv Polytechnic National University hosted the International scientific and practical conference “Partnerships for Social Change: 20 Years of Experience”, devoted to the 20th anniversary of Canada-Ukraine “Reforming Social Services” Project (1999-2003), implemented based on Lviv Polytechnic in cooperation with the University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Canada), funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The Project uniqueness factors were summarized, including the student-centered education program (interactive training, professional education in the context of social development, addressing labor market needs in Ukraine, etc.); a significant part of field instruction hours, i.e., the program close to a dual one; and the program international dimension. The conference summarized the long-term and fruitful Ukrainian-Canadian partnership cooperation, its effectiveness and development prospects.
As a result of the successful Ukrainian-Canadian partnership cooperation, the constant participants of Canada-Ukraine “Reforming Social Services” Project were presented with honorary awards:
- Dr. Brad McKenzie, Professor Emeritus of the University of Manitoba, Doctor Honoris Causa of Lviv Polytechnic National University, was presented with the medal “HRYHORII SKOVORODA” of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, awarded to eminent educators of foreign countries for significant achievements in educational science, and outstanding personal contribution to the development of Ukrainian education;
- Dr. Maureen Flaherty, Acting Director of the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies, Associate Professor of the University of Manitoba, was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the National Academy of Educational Sciences for outstanding personal contribution to the training of highly qualified specialists and scientific personnel on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Canada-Ukraine “Reforming Social Services” Project;
- Dr. Nina Hayduk, Director of International “INTEGRATION” Centre for Professional Partnerships of Lviv Polytechnic National University, was presented with the medal “USHYNSKYI, K.D.” of the National Academy of Educational Sciences, awarded for significant achievements in educational science, and personal contribution to the development of Ukrainian education;
- Dr. Liliia Klos, Head of the Department of Sociology and Social Work, was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the National Academy of Educational Sciences for outstanding personal contribution to the training of highly qualified specialists and scientific personnel on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Canada-Ukraine “Reforming Social Services” Project.
Scientific internships of Ph.D. students of the Department of Sociology and Social Work of Lviv Polytechnic National University at the University of Manitoba have already become the permanent component & tradition of the Ukrainian-Canadian partnership cooperation:
- In the spring semester 2020, Mariana Hasiak, a PhD student of the Department of Sociology and Social Work, completed her scientific internship (the PhD thesis topic is: “The Development of Inclusive Academic Environment for War Veterans in Higher Education”), — Scientific co-advisors: Dr. Nina Hayduk (Ukraine), & Dr. Maureen Flaherty (Canada);
- In the fall semester 2017, at the University of Manitoba supervisory activity was investigated by Sofiya Stavkova, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Sociology and Social Work (the topic of her thesis for the degree of the Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences — the Ph.D. equivalent is: “Continuing Professional Training of Social Workers for Supervisory Activity in Canada”), — Scientific advisor: Dr. Nina Hayduk;
In the spring semester 2015, Ivanna Deka, Lecturer of the Department of Sociology and Social Work, completed her scientific internship (the topic of her thesis for the degree of the Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences — the Ph.D. equivalent is: “Professional Training of Future Occupational Therapists at Canadian Universities”), — Scientific advisor: Dr. Nina Hayduk.
The long-term Ukrainian-Canadian partnership cooperation has been successfully developing (specifically since the completion of the funding of the Reforming Social Services Canada-Ukraine Project) mostly due to the personal support as being rendered on ongoing basis by Dr. Brad McKenzie, Professor of the University of Manitoba, Director of the Reforming Social Services Canada-Ukraine Project, Doctor Honoris Causa of Lviv Polytechnic National University, now Professor Emeritus of the University of Manitoba, and his commitment to the development of the Social Work profession in Ukraine.
The development of the “University-Community” system of
social work education within Canada-Ukraine partnership interaction (since 1994)
Cooperation stage (years) |
Results achieved |
The IHSS Departments involved |
Canadian partners |
I Raising the level of the community awareness about Social Work – a new profession in Ukraine (1994 – 1999) |
|
Department of Foreign Languages |
The Ukrainian community of the city of Winnipeg Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM) The Faculty of Social Work of the University of Manitoba |
II The implementation of the international Reforming Social Services Canada-Ukraine Project
(1999-2003) (continuation)
The promotion of the development of a network of social service agencies in the city of Lviv and the region:
Providing Social Work students with field placement sites, and Social Work graduates – with places of employment
|
|
Department of Sociology and Social Work
Department of Sociology and Social Work
|
The Faculty of Social Work of the University of Manitoba
Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (CCDS)
The Ukrainian community of the city of Winnipeg
The Faculty of Social Work of the University of Manitoba
Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (CCDS)
The Ukrainian community of the city of Winnipeg |
III
Further development of the Social Work & Sociology Programs (since 2004)
Further consolidation of the connections of the Department of Sociology and Social Work with the community of the city of Lviv and the region, and with leading universities of Ukraine
Further development of international partnership cooperation
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Department of Sociology and Social Work
Department of the Ukrainian Language
Department of History of Ukraine and Ethnic Communication |
The Faculty of Social Work of the University of Manitoba
Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (CCDS)
The Ukrainian community of the city of Winnipeg
|