Learning Across Borders: International Social Work Reflections from Canada and New Zealand
The Faculty of Social Work – Global Engagement recently hosted an inspiring gathering titled Learning Across Borders: International Social Work Reflections from Canada and New Zealand, bringing together over 60 BSW and MSW students, faculty, staff, and international scholars to explore how community knowledge, Indigenous teachings, and climate realities are reshaping global social work education.
This event marked a key highlight of QES 2025: Our Changing Climate - Community Resilience and Education, a three-year international initiative supported by the Queen Elizabeth Scholars (QES) program. Led by Dr. Roswita Dressler (Werklund School of Education) and Dr. Aamir Jamal (Faculty of Social Work), the project strengthens academic and community partnerships between the University of Calgary and the University of Auckland, with a shared focus on climate resilience, intercultural learning, and Indigenous knowledge.
Sharon Sajan, MSW thesis student at the University of Calgary, during her research placement in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Faculty was honoured to welcome Sharon Sajan, an MSW thesis student from UCalgary, and Mira Azzasyofia, a PhD scholar from the University of Auckland, who spent two-month research placements in each other’s institutions. Their reflections offered vivid insights into how lived experiences and community relationships shape the practice of international social work.
Sharon described her time in Aotearoa as transformative, emphasizing how belonging is cultivated through generosity, storytelling, and honouring land and ancestors. Being welcomed through the Māori pōwhiri ceremony, observing ecological restoration on Tiritiri Matangi, and hearing stories of displacement linked to climate change, she reflected, “turned abstract climate realities into humane narratives of loss and resilience.”
Mira highlighted the equally profound lessons she gained in Calgary. She spoke about the importance of Indigenous knowledge systems in shaping climate-responsive education, and how communities facing environmental transitions rely on inclusive, locally grounded solutions. Reflecting on her experience, she noted: “Engaging with Indigenous Elders, participating in land-based workshops, and joining climate-justice initiatives reminded me how deeply interconnected our responsibilities are to one another, to the land, and to the stories that sustain communities.” Her reflections underscored that understanding climate impacts requires attention to place, people, and the histories that connect them.
The discussion, moderated by Dr. Jamal, sparked meaningful engagement from BSW students across three sections of International Social Work, as well as MSW International Community Development students and colleagues from both faculties. Their questions and reflections enriched the dialogue, demonstrating how experiential learning nurtures critical thinking, global awareness, and professional growth.
The Faculty also announced that a new call for practicum opportunities at the University of Auckland will open in Spring 2026, offering FSW students another pathway to engage in international learning rooted in community partnership and cultural humility.
The event closed with a strong sense of shared purpose. Participants recognized that global collaboration is not merely about travel - it is about relationships, reciprocity, and honouring the wisdom carried by communities navigating climate change daily. Initiatives like QES continue to support students and scholars in building these connections, strengthening our collective commitment to justice, sustainability, and more resilient futures.
The QES program is made possible through the partnership of Universities Canada, the Rideau Hall Foundation, and Canadian postsecondary institutions, with generous support from the Rideau Hall Foundation.