Our students participated in the Poland study tour, hosted by the Institute of Educational Sciences at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń from 23 to 31 May 2026. During the visit, our students and teacher attended lectures and academic exchange sessions on social work in Poland and Hong Kong, gaining insights into the welfare state, institutional arrangements, and the professional development of social work in different contexts.
The group also visited a range of social welfare organisations, including Arkadia Foundation, the Municipal Family Support Centre (MOPR Toruń), Youth Care Facility “Młody Las,” Caritas Toruń Diocese, the Residential Home for the Elderly (DPS Toruń), and the Toruń Social Services Centre. Through these agency visits, students were able to gain a deeper understanding of practice in disability inclusion, family support, crisis intervention, youth care, elderly services, and community-based social work. They were particularly impressed by the role and functioning of social welfare centres in Poland, and were moved by the genuine sense of dignity and recognition experienced by service users, who were treated as valued and needed members of society.
In addition, the study tour included visits to the Stutthof Concentration Camp Memorial and the Baltic Sea, as well as student integration activities, which prompted important reflections on trauma, ethics, and cross-cultural learning. The group also had meaningful communication with local students, during which they engaged in in-depth conversations about student life, social work training, and cultural differences. They also had the opportunity to experience traditional local dance, which further enriched their intercultural understanding and created a warm and memorable atmosphere. Overall, this exchange broadened students’ understanding of social welfare practice in Poland, strengthened their appreciation of multi-agency collaboration and culturally responsive services, and enriched their professional knowledge and learning experience.
You are welcome to click this link to read the Poland Study Tour Report.
