Central Asian Seminar on Capacity Building in the Field of Social Work in collaboration with PolyU

Organizers: Mustafina A.S., Akmadi M.A.

Central Asian Seminar on Capacity Building in the Field of Social Work in collaboration with PolyU

On the 29th of May 2024, the Central Asian Seminar on Capacity Building in the Field of Social Work, conducted in collaboration with PolyU, unfolded. The seminar, meticulously orchestrated by the Department of Sociology and Social Work at KazNU as part of a synergistic venture with the esteemed Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), was dedicated to amplifying the potential of practical research within the realm of social work. Convening researchers and practitioners from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the event served as a nexus for scholarly exchange and professional advancement. Commencing the proceedings, Professor Gulmira Abdiraiymova, the head of the department, delivered the inaugural address. Noteworthy among the distinguished speakers was Professor Ben Hok Bun KU from PolyU's Department of Applied Social Sciences, who expounded upon scientific breakthroughs, innovative methodologies, and personal insights in the domain of practical research within social work. Equally compelling were the presentations by counterparts from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Professor Umeda Munavvarova, also head of the Caritas Germany Association branch in Tajikistan, elucidated the outcomes stemming from the harmonization of professional standards in social work across Central Asian nations. Meanwhile, Professor Nodira Latipova, leading the Department of Social Work at Mirzo Ulugbek National University of Uzbekistan, shared insights into combatting domestic violence. Further enriching the discourse, Sholpan Primbetova, Deputy Director of the Center for Global Health Studies in Central Asia (Columbia University), imparted experiences garnered from engagement with vulnerable communities in Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, Acting Associate Professor Aigul Mustafina, representing KazNU's Department of Sociology and Social Work, contributed findings from research endeavors in social work education. Propelling the seminar forward were long-term strategies aimed at fortifying the fusion of academia and practical application, while fostering greater collaboration among Central Asian nations in the pursuit of research initiatives.