Citizenship and user participation

Perspectives are based on the human rights declaration and judicial, political, social and religious as mentioned in UN's aim for sustainability. The course focus on theorizing different vulnerable positions regarding citizen's rights, problems regarding user participation, social cohesion and integration and participation as equal citizen.

The challenges of the welfare state with regard to demographic changes, technological developments, the global climate crisis and its interaction globally and locally are thematized. The course explores how to develop the knowledge base in sustainable social work in collaboration with fellow citizens.

Core topics addressed will be different theoretical perspectives and forms of participation, issues related to the development and use of technology in professional practice and in encounters with citizens and users, the writing of practice and the role of texts in the collaboration between the professional and the citizen, green and sustainable social work, and working methods that promote innovation and co-creation.

Knowledge - Students:

• have advanced knowledge on citizenship discourse related to values and rights
• have advanced knowledge on forms of user involvement in different social and historical contexts
• have advanced knowledge about ethical challenges related to user involvement
• have advanced knowledge in the field of knowledge production and research relevant for social work and similar fields of research.
• has knowledge of the connections between trends in technological development and professional practice
• has insight into relevant professional issues related to the use of text and documentation in one's own practice

Skills - Students:

• can analyze and carry out independent work on contextualized interpretations of user involvement and citizenship
• can analyze and deal critically with different perspectives on user involvement and citizenship
• can analyze and critically address how social changes affect sustainability in social work

General knowledge - Students:

• can make written analysis of relevant social science questions related to user involvement and citizenship.
• can analyze sustainable social work and transformation related to user participation and citizenship

The lectures takes place in person on campus, and the work method alternates between lectures, group assignments, and discussions. In addition, there is student self-study and oral presentations.