Student Research Club of Social Workers

Student Research Club of Social Workers at the University of Rzeszów

The Student Research Club of Social Workers at the University of Rzeszów operates within the Faculty of Social Sciences. It brings together students of the social work programme who actively engage in scientific, social, and charitable activities.

As part of its academic initiatives, the club has undertaken numerous projects, including the publication of a research volume based on studies conducted jointly with students: Pokrzywa M., Wilk S. (eds.), The Aggressive Client in Social Work: Reality or Fiction?, University of Rzeszów, Institute of Sociology, Tomaszów Mazowiecki 2016.

In 2018, club members designed and conducted an international study among social work students, exploring the public perception of social workers. The research was carried out in collaboration with the State University of Safety in Lviv. Additionally, members took part in a study visit to social economy institutions in the Podkarpackie region and participated in the Third Podkarpackie Forum of Social Economy, organized as part of the project “Coordination of the Social Economy Sector in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship in 2018–2019.”

Students actively participate in scientific conferences organized and co-organized by the Institute of Sociological Sciences at the University of Rzeszów, such as:
“The Condition of the Contemporary Family in the Face of Depopulation” (2019),
“The Invisibly Visible – Representation of Disability in Films, Series, and TV Programs for Children and Youth” (2021),
“Interdisciplinary Aspects of Beauty, Health, and Illness” (2017), “Social Work – Social Distance – Mental Health” (2020), and
“The Role of Siblings at Different Stages of Human Life” (2020).
Club representatives deliver academic presentations, sharing the results of their own research and theoretical reflections.

Since 2021, club members have been organizing a recurring national conference titled “Social Work in Poland: Theoretical and Practical Reflections.” The inaugural edition, held online in 2021, featured both theoretical and empirical presentations, which resulted in a peer-reviewed publication. In 2022, the second edition addressed current issues in the field of social work. The 2023 conference, held under the theme “Faces of Aging in Social Work in Poland: Theoretical and Practical Reflections,” focused on the challenges posed by an aging society and the role of social workers in elder care.

In 2024, the central theme was domestic violence, with participants exploring topics related to prevention, institutional intervention, and the responsibilities of social services in implementing the “Blue Card” procedure.

In 2025, club members organized a training session titled “The Role and Responsibilities of Healthcare Professionals in the System of Domestic Violence Prevention, with Particular Emphasis on the Blue Card Procedure.”  The training was addressed to medical students and staff of the Medical College at the University of Rzeszów who, under current legislation, are authorized to initiate the Blue Card procedure. The event aimed to raise awareness and strengthen participants’ competencies in identifying, documenting, and responding to domestic violence.

An important aspect of the club’s activities includes author meetings with faculty members of the University of Rzeszów who have published works in the field of social work. In 2023, the club hosted a meeting with Associate Professor Teresa Zbyrad, author of the book “From a Senior’s Diary: Memoirs of Residents of Social Welfare Homes. Case Studies.” In 2024, a meeting was held with Associate Professor Beata Szluz, author of “Through the Closed Window of the Porch: Caring for a Person with Alzheimer’s Disease in the Narratives of Family Caregivers.” These meetings provide inspiring opportunities to discuss the practice of social work, research, and reflections on contemporary social challenges.

As part of its social engagement, the Student Research Club of Social Workers organizes charitable initiatives. Each year, holiday collections are held at Christmas and Easter, providing support to individuals in need through donated goods. The club also collaborates with local social welfare centres and institutions that assist children, seniors, and people in crisis. In 2024, club members sent holiday greeting cards to social workers in flood-affected areas of Poland to express appreciation for their dedication and the challenges they face in their daily work.

Board of the Club for the 2024/2025 Academic Year:

Aleksandra Zięba – President
Patrycja Jargieło  – Vice-President
Aneta Haligowska – Secretary
Agnieszka Bieniek – Treasurer

More information about the club’s activities is available at: https://www.facebook.com/sknpsur/

Student Research Club of Social Workers at the University of Rzeszów, Poland