On November 24, we had a truly exceptional visitor. We welcomed Dr. Gabriela Wasileski, one of the first graduates of social work studies at our department, who now works as a professor at the University of Baltimore (School of Criminal Justice).

It is inspiring to follow her professional journey, from her master's degree in social work at Comenius University to her doctorate in criminology at the University of Delaware. In her work, she combines many years of experience in social work with research in the areas of mental health, addiction, violence against women, human trafficking, migration, and trauma work.

The meeting brought open and stimulating discussions about what unites us in social work, how our experiences differ, and where further joint dialogue can take us.

We look forward to future cooperation.

An inspiring meeting at the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Education, Comenius University!

On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, we welcomed Dr. Gerard Bellefeuille from MacEwan University (Canada), where he is a professor in the Child and Youth Care program, to the Department of Social Work. His lecture brought exceptional energy and showed how education can be creative, experiential, and truly transformative. Professor Bellefeuille presented an approach that connects theory with creativity, the body, emotions, and personal experience. Examples of student projects confirmed that this approach can significantly strengthen self-awareness and professional competencies. Our students and teachers left motivated and encouraged, with a clear sense that high-quality professional training can also look different: creative, bold, and with an emphasis on humanity.

We would like to thank everyone involved for the great atmosphere. Meetings like this move us forward. 

On September 25, 2025, the Department of Social Work organized an event called "Practical work placements exchange" at the Faculty of Education of Comenius University, where representatives of organizations operating in the social sphere had the opportunity to meet with social work students and discuss and agree on internship opportunities. Many students arranged internships in this way and had the opportunity to meet their tutors in person. We believe that this successful and, above all, useful event for both sides will be organized on a regular basis

Representatives of the Department of Social Work at the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava, represented the faculty and their department at a traditional and renowned international scientific conference in the Czech Republic. Mr. doc. PhDr. Peter Brnula, PhD. as the keynote speaker at the XXII. Hradec Days of Social Work, gave an invited lecture on the topic: Social work as a "hostage" of totalitarian regimes in the territory of today's Slovak Republic. Reflection after ten years in the context of the present. At the same time, Prof. PhDr. Ladislav Vaska, PhD. in addition to co-moderating a section focused on burnout prevention in social work, together with his colleague PhDr. Janka Budoš Vrťová, PhD. presented in two short lectures some of the research results obtained within the VEGA project No. 1/0639/23 entitled "Transformations of supervision in social work in the context of digitization," which they are working on with other colleagues at their workplace - doc. Hrozenská, doc. Šavrnochová, Dr. Čavojská, and colleague doc. Brnula. 

A joint meeting of State Secretary Marián Valentovič and State Secretary Petr Pamula with representatives of the Chamber of Social Workers and Social Work Assistants and the Association of Social Work Educators was held at the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family.

The main topic of the meeting was the position of social worker in society and the discussion on how to better support people who help the most vulnerable on a daily basis. Training, the system of further education and possible legislative improvements in the field of social work were also discussed.

"They face difficult fates on a daily basis and in those moments they represent support and hope for people. It is our task to provide them with such conditions so that they can help with confidence and expertise," said State Secretary Marián Valentovič.

"We want to have a professional and open dialogue with all those involved in the education of social workers. Only in this way can we ensure that help comes from well-prepared and supported people," added State Secretary Peter Pamula.

The Department of Social Work of PdF UK enters into a significant cooperation with the Philip Pinel Psychiatric Hospital in Pezinok (PNPP) thanks to the conclusion of a Memorandum of Cooperation (on 26.2.2025) in the field of scientific and research activities - signed between the Dean of the Faculty prof. Žilková and the Director of the hospital Mr. Ing. Hromádek, PhD.

Our department is currently entering into scientific research plans with the Neuropsychiatric Clinic of SZU and PNPP and at the same time from AR 2025/2026 students of social work will be able to realize their professional practice in this unique psychiatric hospital in Slovakia. The research team from KSP PdF UK composed of prof. Vaska, doc. Hrozenská, doc. Šavrnochová, Dr. Čavojská and doc. Brnula will in the near future investigate the "social world" of people suffering from Huntington's disease and their families in the context of a multidisciplinary approach and the quality of life and needs of families of seniors and senior women suffering from dementia. At the same time, if the grant is awarded, KSP PdF UK will become a part (as a project partner) of an international scientific research project focused on the development of a model of mental health care in Huntington's disease in patients with high neuropsychiatric burden, which will be carried out with foreign universities and clinics and with clinics dealing with neurodegenerative diseases in Slovakia and the Slovak Society for Huntington's Disease Relief.

More information to follow :) We look forward to these new challenges.