Department of Social Work of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the fifth National Social Work Week 2024 on August 20, 2024 at the university campus. The theme was ‘School Social Work: Opportunities and Challenges.’

The programme started with a discussion on the film namely ‘Tare Zameen Par’ and role of Aamir Khan, the lead actor in that film as an empathetic teacher who was found trying to help a student, his parents, and the school management in understanding the needs of the special child.

The event also witnessed the discussion on the importance of school social workers, its concept and beginning, importance of school social work services, challenges faced, and the effects of the New Education Policy, 2020 (NEP).

Students also presented a skit entitled ‘Thank You Ma'am’ showcasing the necessity of social workers in schools.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

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Dept of Social work organises rural camp

Department of Social Work of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a rural camp from January 15 to 24, 2024 in collaboration with the Child in Need Institute (CINI) at Baikunthapur village.

The camp was organised to make students understand various dimensions of rural life and role of NGOs in riverine villages of the Sundarbans in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

A total of 55 students along with faculty members participated in the camp. An orientation programme was organized by CINI at Pailan for the students. They visited panchayat, health centres and anganwadi centres. Interactive sessions were organized for the students in Chetna Resource Centre on the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Rural Public Health Structure.

Students also met Upa-Pradhan, Officer-in-Charge, and Block Development Officer in Baikunthapur and learnt about the village administration and Panchayat governance. As a part of their course curriculum, students also visited multipurpose cyclone shelter (flood centre) and interacted with tiger widows.

Faculty members helped the students to conduct community survey and generate awareness about the drowning project started by CINI, and social resource mapping. They also visited an NGO to understand their role and responsibilities.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

Dept of Social Work organises orientation programme

Department of Social Work of the St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised the orientation programme for its seventh (7th) batch of Master of Social Work programme for the new academic session (2023-2025) on August 2, 2023.

Dr. Rupa Biswas, Head of the Department greeted the freshers and introduced the faculty members of the department. She also shared the history of the University, its motto, mission, vision and value framework to the students. She said, “SXUK is committed to deliver quality education to its students always.” She also narrated the administrative structure of the university to help the students understand its functioning system.

Dr. Srenwantee Bhattacharjee, another faculty member of the department enlightened the students on Jesuit legacy and education in the second session. She discussed the contributions of the Jesuits in the field of education throughout the country.

The third session was conducted by Dr. Jacob Islary on the facilities and services provided by the university. He discussed the administrative structure and working procedure of different administrative offices in the university. He also narrated various amenities available in the academic building, utility building and hostels, etc.

The fourth session was taken by Dr. Sucheta Paul. She explained the rules and regulations to be followed by the students. She discussed the policy making bodies of the University, ongoing academic programmes, semester system of education, admission and registration procedure, different committees and their functions, feedback and attendance system, etc. Dr. Paul also explained the examination pattern in detail. She put forth the importance of specialisations, field work and its relevance.

The fifth session was held by Mr. Sukhendu Bank, Social Work Coordinator of the department. He defined the importance of field visits and its relevance in Social Work course. He gave a proper analysis on summer internship, block field work and rural camp. He also emphasised on regularity and punctuality as essential qualities to be a professional social worker.

The orientation programme came to its conclusion through a motivational speech delivered by Dr. Achyut Chetan, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Social Studies.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

Campus Placement for MSW 4th Semester Students

Action Aid Kolkata conducted an On-Campus interview of Social Work students to hire interns for their West Bengal office. The Department readily arranged for the session on 24.5.23 in the University campus. Mr. Surajit Neogi, State Head for West Bengal and Ms. Reshmi Ganguly, Programme Manager conducted a written test and interview of the students. Reported by Dr. Rupa Biswas

Dept of MSW celebrates Earth Day

In an attempt to keep its students aware of sustainable development, the Department of Social Work of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) celebrated the Earth Day on April 25, 2023.

Faculty members of the department directed the students to explore avenues to contribute to the well-being of Mother Earth. Students came up with innovative ideas and discussed. They also participated in poster preparation and made slogans related to sustainable development.

At the end of the session, students took pledge to reduce the wastage of energy, food and water; refrain from using electronic gadgets like smart phones, tabs, television, etc. for an hour every day, recycle electronic waste and clothes, use water and other natural resources judiciously, etc.

They were also taught to use dustbins, segregate wet and dry waste, reduce the use of plastic and were advised to acknowledge others on the same in their surroundings.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

Dept of Social Work organises special lecture session

In a bid to make the students aware of women empowerment, Department of Social Work, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) conducted a special lecture session on April 3, 2023. The topic was ‘Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005’. Dr. Utpal Raha, a faculty member of Xavier Law School was the resource person.

Dr. Utpal Raha said that domestic violence is a social malady which leads to fatal consequences. The Government has empowered women sect by implementing the Act. Victims should address their issues to the judiciary without hiding, he added.

Dr. Raha discussed salient features of the Act and said that the implementation of the law is a first step to address the problems arisen. He urged every victim and their well-wishers to bring the incidents of domestic violence to the notice of the judiciary.

He further said that students and professionals of social work should play significant role in making people aware of the Act and take steps to eradicate the social evil. The lecture was followed by an interactive session. Students found the session highly enriching.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

Dept of Social Work organizes special lecture

In a bid to make its students aware of sustainable development, the Department of Social Work, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a special lecture on March 22, 2023. The topic was ‘Forest, Livelihoods and Development: Bengal Experience’.

The resource person was Michael Islary, a Senior Programme Officer, Centre for People’s Forestry, Hyderabad. He discussed the lifestyle of tribal population living in forests and their rights to the natural resources for their sustenance.

While highlighting their ways of livelihood in Bankura, Sundarbans and Sandeshkhali, Mr. Islary spoke about the issues and challenges faced by the tribal inhabitants regularly. He cited their dependency on non-timber forest products in sustaining their livelihoods.

Mr. Islary stressed on forming capacity development, advocacy and policies by both the government and non-government organisations for providing quality life to the tribal people in these areas. He also encouraged students to work as social workers in ecological domain.

Dr. Rupa Biswas

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