Social work on the international stage

By Matthew Biddle

“Being at the UN offered a rare chance for me to see how social justice issues are addressed on an international scale — something that can deeply inform my perspective as I work with youth facing systemic pressures and educational inequities,” she says.

McCarthy is a student in the University at Buffalo School of Social Work’s part-time, online MSW program. A Long Island native, she is completing her field placements in the Syosset Central School District and plans to become a school social worker after graduation next year.

“After listening to others’ experiences, it encouraged me to think more critically and creatively about the role I want to play in this field — one who not only supports students on an individual level, but also actively works to address systemic barriers within education,” she says. “It also made me think more critically about the gaps that exist in schools and how I want to be part of designing interventions that meet those needs.”

McCarthy’s experience was part of Social Work Day at the United Nations, an annual opportunity for social work students and educators to visit the UN in New York City, hear from international leaders and meet colleagues from around the country.

Michael Lynch, clinical associate professor in the School of Social Work, organized and led UB’s delegation.

“We value providing learning opportunities outside of the classroom,” Lynch says. “This opportunity gave students an overview of what international social work looks like and how to explore career paths outside of the U.S.”

The half-day program included keynotes from Ambassador Omar Hilale, Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN; Charles Katoanga, director of the UN’s Division for Inclusive Social Development; and Pär Liljert, director for the International Organization for Migration Office at the UN.

Ogechi Kalu, a PhD in Social Welfare student in the School of Social Work, appreciated learning about the history of social work globally and hearing from social workers who work in nontraditional and international settings, including Stephanie Asare, LCSW, a mental health clinician at the World Bank.

“The experience exposed me to how international social work works,” Kalu says. “It’s important to know that sometimes a social work role isn’t called a ‘social worker’; it might be an embedded role, like an advocate or policy analyst. Everyone encouraged us, the future social workers, to spread our wings and consider other areas where we could make an impact.”

After their morning at the UN, the UB students and faculty traveled to Fordham University for the Global Social Work Student Conference, an afternoon program that included such topics as community and student advocacy, climate justice and artificial intelligence.

With other educators, Lynch discussed how to infuse more international content into social work courses and how to create assignments that encourage students to analyze problems from a global perspective.

Meanwhile, the students were split into groups to discuss the risks and challenges of AI and devise solutions for specific settings. McCarthy’s group, for example, brainstormed how to regulate the use of AI in child welfare and improve digital literacy curricula in schools.

“Overall, this experience expanded my perspective on what social work can be and how the levels of social work practice are interconnected,” McCarthy says. “I left with a clearer vision of the kind of social worker I want to become.”

Matthew Biddle
Director of Communications and Marketing
School of Social Work
Tel: 716-645-1226
mrbiddle@buffalo.edu