Dundee Social Work staff today (Tuesday July 11) played host to the 39 students from the Gulf States attending the summer school organised by the Al-Maktoum Institute.
The students were given presentations from Alan Baird, Director of Social Work and Jenni Tocher, manager of the Strategy and Performance service on the need for social work services before meeting Baillie Helen Wright, convener of the Social Work committee for Dundee City Council.
Later the students split into three groups and were taken to see a range of different services. Among the places they visited were Oakland elderly day care centre, the Mackinnon Centre for those with physical and learning difficulties, Bruce Street family support centre, Eastport House which deals with victims of domestic abuse, Menzieshill residential care centre for the elderly and Seymour Lodge child protection service.
Earlier this year the Social Work department signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Al-Maktoum Institute recognising the work they do to promote multiculturalism both in Scotland and abroad.
Welcoming the students to Dundee, Baillie Wright said, “The city council’s Social Work department is proud of the links we have developed with Al-Maktoum Institute. I hope the discussions you have with our social work staff today will prove to be of value when you return to the United Arab Emirates.”
The day spent hearing about Dundee’s social work services is one of the benefits to come from signing the Memorandum. Social work staff have also benefited from learning about Muslim customs and culture.
Professor Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi, Principal of Al-Maktoum Institute said: ”We are very grateful to Baillie Wright and to Mr Baird and his staff for arranging this programme for us. I am sure the students will learn a lot from seeing how social services are provided in the UK.”
Later this evening the students and invited guests will attend a lecture being given by Dr Fatima Al-Sayegh, a leading academic from United Arab Emirates University on “The role of Women in the UAE.”
