Faculty 4: Social Work and Health organizes International Weeks (IW) each year to integrate international perspectives into teaching and strengthen exchange between students, teachers and international partners of the faculty.
33rd International Week in May
Under the theme “Urban Futures: Health and Social Sustainability,” Faculty 4: Social Work and Health hosted its 33rd International Week (IW) from May 18-22, 2026. This well-established format integrates international perspectives and expertise from partner universities and organizations worldwide into the teaching of Department 4, strengthens long-standing collaborations, and provides students of social work and health sciences with access to international educational experiences each year.
This year, in addition to the numerous guest lectures by speakers from Southern Africa, Asia, Northern and Southern Europe, as well as North America, the program was expanded to include new event formats and enriched by the participation of international students.
This year, students also got involved directly and organized a panel discussion on the topic “Integration in Hesse – Theory and Action in Social Work and Politics" with guests from politics, practice, and academia. Another highlight was the presentation of the book “Social Inequalities Within and Among Countries: Achieving SDG 10 Through Social Interventions” (2026, Springer) on May 19 by all four editors from Germany, India, Malaysia, and South Africa—a remarkable outcome of many years of international academic collaboration.
A significant extension of International Week was the intensive week of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “Be the Change – Advancing Urban Sustainability and Health in Metropolitan Regions.” This teaching project brought around 60 students and faculty members from seven international and U!REKA partner universities to Frankfurt. The program focused on key topics such as urban sustainability, public health, disaster management, and social justice. A particular highlight was the international conference “Disaster Risk Reduction in Care and Social Work: Transnational Learning Lab,” organized within the framework of the Volkswagen Foundation–funded project Transformational Knowledge for Disaster Relief (TransKat), in cooperation with U!REKA and the city of Worms. Renowned scholars presented current research on innovative approaches such as serious games, arts-based disaster management, and disaster nursing.
The academic program was complemented by practical and creative formats: an excursion to the solidarity-based agricultural cooperative “Die Kooperative” provided insights into community-supported and sustainable food production. In addition, students developed their own perspectives on healthier and more sustainable urban living through an arts-based Photovoice project. Their photographic work impressively showcased the diversity and creativity in addressing urban challenges.
The International Week, in combination with the BIP, clearly demonstrated the value of international collaboration, interdisciplinary exchange, and the integration of theory and practice for the advancement of social work and health. It underscored that global challenges such as social inequality, urban sustainability, and disaster resilience can only be effectively addressed collectively and through international dialogue—thereby sending a strong signal about the importance of interconnected, forward-thinking higher education.
About the International Weeks
The Faculty of Social Work and Health has held International Weeks (IWs) regularly for over 15 years at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, in which many international guests are invited to hold guest lectures and share their expertise in selected modules at the faculty. The IWs are an important element of the university wide initiative of "Internationalization at Home", which provides students with international perspectives in teaching right here in Frankfurt. These also offer the opportunity for students, lecturers and staff to network with our partner universities as well as with practitioners from social and healthcare institutions and learn more about exchange and cooperation opportunities.