A Continuing Global Commitment: APSS and IASSW Deepen Collaboration on the On-line Platform for Social Work Education and Training

Following the successful first three years of collaboration, APSS and the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) signed a Supplementary Agreement on 4 May 2026 during the opening ceremony of the International Conference, “Social Work in Action: Interdisciplinary and Global-Informed Strategies for Bridging and Advancing Sustainable Development in Central Asia.” This agreement extends the 2023 partnership with IASSW, originally signed on 3 May 2023, to support the online learning platform for Global Standards for Social Work Education.

This Supplementary Agreement was signed by Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of APSS, Co-Director of PReCIT and ADoRCESGA, and Chair Professor of Social Work and Criminology and Prof. Antoinette LOMBARD, President of IASSW. The signing was witnessed by Prof. Angelina YUEN-TSANG (Honorary Professor of APSS) and Prof. Annamaria CAMPANINI, both former IASSW Presidents, as well as Prof. Varoshini NADESAN, Associate Professor at the University of Johannesburg.

This supplementary agreement, covering the period from May 2026 to May 2028, is an important step towards further strengthening global collaboration in social work education and expanding access to shared standards, knowledge, and professional development.

To mark three years of successful collaboration, a plenary session titled “Capacity Building through Global Standards: From E-learning Innovation to Regional Implementation” was held. Members of the Working Group on the On-line Platform discussed its development, implementation and effectiveness. From 2023 to 2026, the platform achieved significant international reach, engaging over 4,000 social work educators, researchers, and practitioners worldwide. Participant feedback highlights the platform’s value in bridging theory and practice, localising global standards, bolstering frontline confidence, and offering flexible, self-paced learning. Moving forward, the platform is poised to evolve from a digital resource into a global hub for capacity building and the sustainable advancement of social work education.

Online coverage:
CGDN website: https://www.polyucgdn.com/article/498
IASSW: https://www.iassw-aiets.org/2026/05/10/iassw-participated-in-international-conference-social-work-in-action-interdisciplinary-and-global-informed-strategies-for-bridging-and-advancing-sustainable-development-in-central-asia-in-almat/