CWU Teachers Attend Seminar on Poverty Alleviation

Liu Meng, Vice-President of China Women's University (CWU), along with the director of the Graduate Affairs Office and teachers from the Social Work Department and Education Center for the Masters of Social Work, participated in a seminar on poverty alleviation from December 1-2.

The event was organized by the China Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) and aimed to motivate more volunteers to participate in education-oriented poverty alleviation.

According to the requirements of the CPC Central Committee and State Council's Decisions on Winning the Battle Against Poverty in 2015, The 13th Five-year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2016-2020), as well as the Notice on Poverty Alleviation Work during the 13th Five-year Plan Period issued by the State Council, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development jointly promulgated the Guidance for Supporting Social Work Professionals' Participation in Poverty Alleviation.

In accordance with the implementation of the plan that encourages social work talents to serve in poverty-stricken areas and a special policy that involves more social work professionals and volunteers in poverty alleviation, relevant government departments have explicitly demanded that the CASWE should shape a cooperative relationship between higher institutes and impoverished regions, establish training bases for social work teachers and students, as well as cultivate more social work talents for poor areas in China.

In addition, the CASWE should encourage college teachers of social work to supervise the poverty alleviation work, lead social work students to participate in social practice and motive social work graduates' employment in poor areas. By the year 2020, more than 200 universities should have established cooperation with impoverished counties and regions, and set up practice bases for social work teachers and students.

As a member of the CASWE and one of the pioneering higher institutes carrying out social work education, the CWU social work department has been involved in poverty alleviation work for many years.

In recent years, CWU's social work department has worked with government agencies, professional societies and other relevant organizations including the All-China Women's Federation to carry out social work education and professional services in poverty-stricken areas in Inner Mongolia, Sichuan, Qinghai and Yunnan provinces.

These projects aim to improve women, children and other disadvantaged groups' abilities and promote all-round development in key areas. On behalf of CWU, Liu Meng urged those present to build professional teams, make elaborated plans and do more research on social work.

Wang Xianmi, a CWU teacher representative, accepted the Certificate of Honor issued by the CASWE and the National MSW Education Guiding Committee for poverty alleviation effort.

Under the guideline of the country's circular on winning the battle against poverty, CWU's social work talents participated in the special campaign of nationwide poverty alleviation, which enhanced the university's influence on the social work profession, further improved the MSW's abilities in teaching, practice and research, enhanced CWU's participation in the national development strategy.

(Source: China Women's University/Translated and Edited by Gender Study Network)