Press release
Universities co-host world’s most prestigious social work conference
The University of Dundee and Robert Gordon University (RGU) jointly hosted a major international social work conference with hundreds of delegates attending from countries across the globe including Italy, Brazil, and Hong Kong.
Published on 28 April 2026
The European Social Work Research Association Conference 2026 took place at P&J Live in Aberdeen. Professor Gary Spolander (RGU) and Professor Richard Ingram (Dundee) made up the local organising committee for the conference.
Professor Ingram, Head of Social Work at Dundee, said, “Nearly 900 social work researchers from all over the globe are taking part in one of the largest conferences of its type.
“The challenges facing individuals, communities and society nationally and internationally have never been greater, nor has the need and appetite for impactful social work research. It is fantastic that Scotland is the location for such an important event.”
The conference theme was Social Work and Interdisciplinary Research: researching and facilitating evidence informed practice and policy. This theme aligns with the importance of celebrating, enhancing, and promoting social work research to inform professional practice, facilitate policy and enable change at individual, community, and societal levels.
Professor Spolander added, "Evidence informed practice is really important in terms of ensuring that we deliver services which are fit for purpose and which really exemplify the best understanding that we have of social work in society today."