Social Work (MATS)

“ After my MATS course, I wanted to further my understanding of an area I was particularly interested in, namely homelessness, and had the opportunity to carry out research from a gender perspective. The concepts I learned during my course are useful in my day-to-day work, since we provide support for homeless people, among others.” 

“After three years’ professional experience as a social worker, I decided to stop work to start the Master of Arts HES-SO in Social Work full time. I felt that I wanted to further my knowledge of social issues. The course helped me to find a new job, which I wouldn’t have got without the qualification. The overarching view and analytical skills I developed through the assessment work, in particular, are essential in managing the complexity of human relationships. Now that I have a better theoretical understanding, I can also be more creative in my interventions. ”

“I’ve always questioned the meaning of my activities as a youth worker and that’s why I signed up for the Master’s in Social Work. The course has helped me gain a better understanding of the contexts and issues I face in my practice, with and for service users. Afterwards, I felt I wanted to carry on and try to pass on what I had learned. After working as an assistant lecturer at EESP for two years, I’m now a senior lecturer. I get a lot of enjoyment from working with students as they professionalise their practice and dealing with the day-to-day issues in social work, across the wide variety of practices it encompasses. ”
 

“I decided to take the Master of Arts HES-SO in Social Work after several years of working in various institutions. I needed new tools to understand the issues at every point in the chain between social policies and service users, which is where social work obviously lies. The combination of the course and my experience have given me a fresh perspective. ”

“I decided to pursue the Master’s in Social Work after working at a migration centre for a few months. The experience really made me question my role and the effects of certain policies on my actions as a professional. I wanted a chance to think about it and by examining a range of topics, the Master’s gave me the opportunity to analyse the issues in social policies in more detail, compare them and above all, discuss them with other students from different backgrounds, using critical theoretical input. Today, the discussions and teaching we had on the course feed into and support my thinking about my professional practice. ”

“I started the Master’s in Social Work to bring fresh thinking to my professional practice. I studied part time and it gave me the chance to test and expand my skills, as well as my breadth of knowledge. Getting the qualification was an opportunity for me to think about new career prospects. I’m employed by a municipal administrative authority, in a job that hasn’t existed until now. My role is to organise our existing sociocultural services and improve their visibility with local partners. Coordinating community projects is a key part of my work. ”

“When I started on the Master of Arts HES-SO in Social Work, I already had several years’ experience in various roles in social work. The Master’s was an opportunity to update my knowledge and learn more. By the end of the course, I felt my skills had improved. I couldn’t quite see myself in other roles than the one I was already in, but I knew I wanted to carry on working in the field. The course definitely played a part in the next stage of my career. I now work at the Haute école de travail social Fribourg - HETSFR; I feel completely comfortable in the various roles associated with my work, and the Master’s definitely contributed to that. ”