Pre-conference (for Doctoral Researchers), 11 February 2026
Better together
Collaboration between different actors is at the core of social work. In changing environments and during times of uncertainty, shared work and collective responsibility are needed more than ever. The conference will explore the significance of collaboration in client work, research, and the development of social and health services. Effective collaboration is manifested both in interdisciplinary research cooperation and within the social work profession across diverse points of practice. We invite researchers, practitioners, and students to build a common understanding and seek solutions to current challenges of the welfare state.
The theme “Better Together” highlights the importance of collaboration in client work, in workplaces, across different sectors, and in the integration of social and health services. Addressing complex societal issues requires broad cooperation, multiple perspectives, and multidisciplinary development based on research. Collegiality and sharing information can be empowering, especially when addressing sensitive topics in research as well as in practice. The theme also brings forward co-research and collaborative development – how can social work research and practice meet, and how can clients participate in producing research knowledge? Interdisciplinarity and collaboration within universities are also central – how can different disciplines enrich social work research?