Musashino University and Mongolia National University of Education Co-Host International Exchange Program on Child Welfare Social Work

The Department of Social Welfare, Faculty of Human Sciences at Musashino University (Headquarters: Koto City, Tokyo; President: Seiko Konishi) hosted 13 students and faculty members from Mongolia National University of Education at its Musashino Campus from June 8 to 9, 2024, to conduct an international exchange program centered on social work in the field of child welfare.

On June 8, faculty members from the department planned and coordinated a field tour, visiting a local Council of Social Welfare and a child welfare institution. On June 9, a variety of programs were held, including an exchange workshop with fourth-year students from the department, discussions among faculty members on school social work, and lectures for first- and second-year students on the themes of 'alternative care' and 'school social work.'

Participants deepened their understanding of the current status and challenges in education and welfare systems in both Japan and Mongolia, shared knowledge on school social work practices and alternative care systems, and enhanced their learning from an international perspective. In the following week, on June 16, students presented reflections and impressions from the workshops and lectures in their respective seminar groups. The Department of Social Welfare places strong emphasis on learning social work from a global perspective, and this program clearly served as a valuable opportunity for students to examine social work issues from multiple angles.

【Program Highlights】

Second Period: Exchange Workshop (for 4th-year students)

Following an introductory presentation by faculty from Mongolia National University of Education about Mongolia and their university, participants were divided into seminar groups to conduct workshops on the themes: 'What is essential for children to grow up safely and securely?' and 'When children face difficulties, who can support them and how?'

During the workshops, participants exchanged views on differences between Japan and Mongolia in social welfare and education systems. Discussions also covered challenges facing children, such as bullying, and explored ways of providing support. Students compared commonalities and differences between the two countries, deepening their understanding and reflecting on child support systems in each nation. At the end, faculty from Mongolia National University of Education shared summaries of each group’s discussions and provided overall feedback.

Third Period: Faculty Discussion on School Social Work

A discussion session was held on the theme of 'Mezzo- and Macro-Level Practices of School Social Work in Japan.' A faculty member from the Department of Social Welfare, who also serves as an active School Social Worker (SSW), presented on the development of Japan’s SSW system, current support structures in schools, and practical case examples. The presenter explained that SSWs engage not only in direct support to individual children (micro-level practice) but also in building school-wide support systems and intervening in broader environments such as families and communities (mezzo- and macro-level practices). Faculty from Mongolia asked questions about Japan’s legal framework for SSWs, deployment status, and the number of professionals, leading to an active and productive exchange.

Fourth and Fifth Periods: Lectures on Alternative Care and School Social Work (for 1st- and 2nd-year students)

Following a lecture by Mongolian faculty on the development and training of social work professionals supporting children in Mongolia, lectures were delivered on the themes of 'alternative care' and 'school social work.' Faculty and students from both countries compared social welfare and educational practices in Japan and Mongolia, engaging in dialogue on each topic. Students raised many questions about the living conditions and actual support systems for children in Mongolia.

【Comments】

Shinichi Sakurai, Lecturer, Department of Social Welfare, Faculty of Human Sciences

It has been just a few months since we held preparatory meetings for this program at Mongolia National University of Education in Ulaanbaatar in February. This mutual exchange program reaffirmed the universality of social work principles—such as 'valuing each individual’s life and dignity'—even across different countries, systems, and cultures. This program was made possible thanks to the support and cooperation of our department faculty, Japanese-Mongolian interpreters, and university staff, particularly from the Musashino Faculty Office. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone involved. While cherishing the connections formed through this exchange, we hope to further develop collaboration between our two universities and enhance our educational and research activities in the future.

Related Links

Faculty of Human Sciences, Department of Social Welfare:

https://www.musashino-u.ac.jp/academics/faculty/human_sciences/social_welfare/

Mongolia National University of Education: https://msue.edu.mn/