A new concept for museum training in Germany

To talk about a new concept for museum training seems perhaps, to be a little bit exaggerated. For long time you have all been talking about concepts and contents for museum training and as I figured out the debate on the topic in Germany is as old as the appearance of national museums in the 19th century. Men like Theodor Mommsen, Rudolph Virchow, Alfred Lichtwark, all well known historians and supporters of the museum idea, spoke and wrote not only about the importance of museums as cultural and educational institutions but also supported the idea of professionalisation of museums work. Some of the ideas of our ancestors are still part of an ongoing discussion. The topic of my talk today will be what king of personnel a museum of our time needs to cope with the growing demand for internal and external organization. I shall present to you a new training program for museum workers in Germany which aims not to produce a new group of researchers but to prepare students for the practical work in the museum field.

The Challenges of Globalisation and Harmonisation for European Social Work

A globalização tem provocado alterações importantes na educação e na prática de Serviço Social. Estas têm a ver com a privatização, dependência do mercado, e a “nova gestão”. Estes factores determinam a resposta dos assistentes sociais aos clientes e a maneira como são tratados como empregados. Os formadores de Serviço Social devem integrar nos seus currículos os elementos associados com a globalização, os conhecimentos e as competências necessárias para a prática em contextos diversificados, e a potenciação (empowerment) dos clientes. É um desafio que está aberto para os planeadores da formação em Serviço Social. A União Europeia tem todo interesse em avançar com uma globalização inclusiva, solidariedade social e justiça social através de Serviço Social relevante. Existem todavia muitos obstáculos que precisam de ser previstos, contornados e ultrapassados.