NMU Social Work Activities Highlighted

Three Northern Michigan University Social Work Department faculty members attended the most recent World Summit for Social Development at the National Convention Centre in Doha, Qatar. The summit is one of the most significant global events in the field, according to NMU associate professor Vikash Kumar, who attended with colleagues Karl Johnson and Caroline Cheng.

Other recent Social Work Department activities have included Kumar's recent participation in the UN 64th Commission on Social Development in New York, a faculty-led study abroad program in India, and a guest lecture on policy advocacy by Professor Manohar Pawar from Charles Sturt University in Australia.

The World Summit featured 40 heads of state and government, 170 ministers and thousands of delegates from international organizations, academia, the private sector and civil society groups. These delegates gathered to witness the recommitment of nation states to advancing social, economic and environmental development and in building a more peaceful and stable world.

"This summit was a historic moment that significantly influenced higher education on issues of social policy and social development," Kumar explained. "Key areas such as poverty eradication, employment for all, the use of artificial intelligence, social integration, and the transition from traditional to clean energy systems were central themes of the discussions. These topics are deeply embedded in our social work curriculum. Our participation in this global event showcased Northern Michigan University's contributions to research and scholarship in these areas."

The Doha Political Declaration sets the agenda for social development for years to come. The establishment of a monitoring framework by the Commission for Social Development and ongoing review of progress on the social development commitments provide fruitful avenues for non-state actors to make their voices heard at country level, in UN regional commissions and at global levels.

The International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD) hosted and co-hosted eight out of a total of 254 side events at the summit and an exhibition. The ICSD had a large delegation of 16 individual and institutional members, including the trio from NMU, and enjoyed high visibility at the summit.

"At the conference, I gained insights into global frameworks and innovative solutions that foster social inclusion, strengthen community resilience and promote sustainable well-being for vulnerable groups," Cheng said.

"The UN Second World Summit for Social Development allowed us to bring back ideas for both our students and university-wide colleagues that we hope will stimulate broader discussions about how to integrate social development ideas into our scholarship and practices," said Johnson.