Social work priorities at focus of scholarly discussion

Artur Mkrtichyan, Dean of the YSU Faculty of Sociology, noted that this year the conference was organized in a nationwide format for the first time, bringing together representatives of both academic and professional communities. He emphasized that a significant number of participants were graduates of the faculty who already play an active role in the social work system. In his assessment, such meetings provide an opportunity to combine the experience and approaches of specialists, discuss key sectoral issues, and outline possible solutions.

Students enrolled in the "Social Work" bachelor's and master's programs also took part in the conference. According to Mkrtichyan, events of this format are important for students' professional development, as they allow them to become familiar with practical challenges in the field and prepare for their future professional activity.

Yuliana Melkumyan, Associate Professor and Head of the Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies at the YSU Faculty of Sociology, noted that the conference was attended by representatives of various institutions in the field of social work, including Shirak State University, the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan, the Penitentiary Service, as well as the Armenian Association of Social Workers.

During the discussions, participants also addressed the need to assess the effectiveness of preventive social services, the social challenges faced by forcibly displaced persons from Artsakh, and the interconnection between social policy and professional interventions. They emphasized the importance of combining scientific and applied experience for the development of the field.

Mira Antonyan, President of the Armenian Association of Social Workers, highlighted the importance of regular meetings within the professional community, which are traditionally organized around two key dates in the field: Social Worker's Day in Armenia (November 4) and World Social Work Day (March 17). In her view, social work is a dynamically developing system in which education, practice, and social policy mutually shape each other's progress. Changes in policy directly affect professional practice, while practical experience contributes to the development of education and research.

According to Antonyan, the primary goal of such professional discussions is to identify the steps necessary to strengthen the role of social workers within the social policy system and to formulate clear messages for decision-makers, educational institutions, donor organizations, and representatives of the professional community. She stressed the need to rethink the role of social workers, emphasizing that they should act not only as service intermediaries but also as active participants in the protection of human rights and in addressing social issues.

In her opinion, the development of the field requires continuous professional consolidation, the formation of unified positions, and the strengthening of the institutional foundations of social work.