Tomas Bata University in Zlín

Workshop Social Pedagogy in Practice

On Tuesday, 5 March 2024, the traditional workshop Social Pedagogy in Practice took place in the auditorium of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Technology in Zlín. The event was intended especially for students of the Social Pedagogy programme.

The workshop’s goal was to provide students with insights into their career opportunities, delivered by professionals from the field. Since practical experience offers students a wide range of career options as social educators and social workers, the event focused on specific areas. This year’s workshop was dedicated mainly to social services. The workshop featured contributions from experienced professionals who shared their knowledge. The opening session was led by colleagues from the Field Assistance Service in Zlín, Markéta Halaštová, DiS., and Bc. Lenka Špendlíková, who spoke about establishing contact with clients in their natural environment and outlined principles that could help future graduates navigate their professional practice. Next, Bc. Marie Fialová introduced the Social Therapeutic Workshop operated by the Naděje organisation in Zlín, along with other services provided by Naděje, such as the House of Peaceful Age. Ms. Fialová described the role of a social worker in supporting clients with intellectual disabilities. The third session focused on public administration. Mgr. Simona Čubáková discussed the collaboration between the Regional Authority and other social services in the region. She also addressed social work with families. In the second half of the workshop, students had the opportunity to hear from Mgr. Marek Mikláš, MBA, the director of the Advisory and Crisis Centre. Mr. Mikláš shared intriguing experiences and stories from practice and encouraged students to carefully select their target groups. The workshop concluded with a presentation by Bc. Renáta Lorencová, a quality methodology specialist from the Burešov Senior Home. Ms. Lorencová provided an overview of life in the facility, highlighting its diverse services and its emphasis on a humane approach. She also spoke about the role of a social worker in supporting seniors. We extend our gratitude to the field professionals for their willingness to share invaluable insights from their professional practice with the students. We also appreciate the presenters’ ability to actively engage students in the sessions and believe this will inspire them in their future work as social workers—a profession that is often challenging and frequently underappreciated in society.