FOR RESEARCH PLEASE VISIT RESEARCH PORTAL “RHEMA”.
“WE WISH WE HAD KNOWN” – Innovative approaches in preventing burnout in Social work profession
THE MAIN IDEA OF THE PROJECT:
Social workers play key role as change agents for such determinants of citizens’ poor mental health in the global world as poverty, isolation, exclusion, discrimination, says World Heralth Organization’s Mental Health Action Plan (exp. to 2030). WHO statistics reveal social workers’ burnout 75-80%. At the same time Nordic Counteries Ministers’ concept “Our Vision 2030” and project “Europe 2030” asks for knowledge innovations as instruments to ensure Sustainable Development Goals. Having mentioned concerns in mind, the OVERALL GOAL of the network is:
- To draw attention that Social workers’ burnout has little attention from researchers and politicians,
- To create long-term collaboration network – to implement ANTHROPOLOGY-DESIGN-THINKING METHODOLOGY (ADTM) preventing burnout.
PARTNERS IN RESEARCH:
- European Christian Academy, LV (coordinator),
- St. Ignatius Loyola University of Applied Sciences, LT,
- Ansgar University College, NO –
AGREED:
“THE BEST WAY TO INNOVATE IS TO TURN BACK TO ANTHROPOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE THAT HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN IN MODERN TIMES.”
About Intensive Course and other coordination issues please call Valters Dolacis, +371-29338605, e-mail: kursi@kra.lv . Also you can ask him about our online ZOOM discussions!
KEY AUDIENCE:
Students, academics, social workers,
KEY ACTIVITIES:
- Networking – long term
- Intensive Course – 6 ECTS,
- Innovation ADTM,
- Plan of Exploitation and Dissemination.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Successful mobility for the network meetings,
- Discussion on IC programme contents, methodology, publications,
- Discussions on Anthropology-Design-Thinking Methodology (details to be exposed).
ATTENTION!
Our first network meeting is scheduled for June 2025 – establishing network (election of the Board of the network; schedule of the network activities; criterial of quality; discussions about ADTM; plan of dissemination).
PLEASE REMEMBER that after the Summer holidays we agreed to discuss ADTM updates, activities and milestones for the next discussion! PLEASE CONTACT Dr. paed. Laimute Anužiene (St. Ignatius Loyola University of Applied Sciences, LT). You can reach her via e-mail: anuziene.laim@gmail.com
PLEASE REMEMBER three research articles!
Topics to be covered:
- The Role of Synergic Anthropology in Preventing Professional Burnout,
- Innovative Studyu Module fior the Social Work Study Programs,
- Problem-oriented Experimental Draft by Students Using ADTM methodology.
URGENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SECOND NETWORK MEETING IN NORWAY!
Date: February 12, 2026.
Duration: 1 day.
Topics to discuss:
Content of the Intensive course (June 1-10, 2026). Discussions of administrative and quality issues of the Intensive Course, discussion for publications.
Topics to be covered:
- The role of synergic anthropology in preventing professional burnout,
- innovative Study module fior the social work study programs,
- Problem-oriented experimental draft by students using ADTM methodology.
MAIN ACTIVITY – INTENSIVE COURSE AT EUROPEAN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Intensive Course “Innovations from Anthropological-Design-Thinking-Methodology for protecting social workers from burnout” in June 1-10, 2026.
10- days IC enables students to understand phenomena of social work as science, not only practice, and as part of interdisciplinary innovation culture.
Learning outcomes:
Knowledge:
- Anthropological-Design-Thinking-Methodology (ADTM) knowledge for innovative changes in work with clients – how to preserve mental health and self-taught empowerment of people as well giving external/internal inspiration
- Anthropological knowledge interdisciplinary framework for successful communication with clients that doesn’t lead to burnout.
- ADTM as innovative changes accelerator in social work study work programs and profession.
Skills:
- Practical use of ADTM for reducing burnout – in crisis situations of inter-cultural clients
- Skills to rediscover sources of anthropological strengths in a client and a professional
Competencies:
- Competencies to develop integral view on SW profession in modern risk society.
- Updated anthropology methodology for innovative changes in study programs regarding strategy “Our Vision 2030”.
- Competence how to keep mental health in SW and to adapt new approach to work-life crisis
URGENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE THIRD NETWORK MEETING IN LATVIA!
Date: September 23, 2026.
Topics to discuss:
- Assessment of the Intensive Course. Assessment of quality: questionnaires,
- Evaluation of the Study Module topics for study programs in social work,
- Planning actions to develop the project in the future, using methodology of Foresight Strategy integration,
- Ideas for research and extended network for future,
- Presentation of three publications: 1) Skaidrīte Gūtmane. The role of synergic anthropology in preventing professional burnout (Scientific Proceedings of European Christian Academy, Vol. 9. (2026) pp. 61-71), 2) Guntis Dišlers (professor from European Christian Academy). On the discourse of narrative therapy practice from the perspective of Patristic anthropology (Tiltai, Volume 95, Issue 2 (2025), pp. 185-199); 3) Justīne Kievišiene. Client-centered Approach in Social Work – the Healing Power of empathy (Scientific Proceedings of European Christian Academy, Vol. 9. (2026) pp. 72-79).
Dissemination:
Prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane (European Christian Academy): EZA (European Center for Workers’s Questions, EC-Germany) General Assembly, which will take place in 20 November 2026, in Brussels Belgium.
Prof. Laimute Anužiene (St. Ignatius of Loyola University): international ERASMUS+ seminar in Vilnius, November 19/20, 2026.
