ERIS Conference 2026 in Łódź: Invitation and Registration

Our partners from The University of Łódź, Poland, cordially invite scholars, researchers, practitioners, and representatives of social and community-based organizations to participate in the annual International Conference of the European Research Institute for Social Work (ERIS).

This year′s edition is co-hosted by the University of Ostrava and organized by the Department of Social Pedagogy and Social Rehabilitation, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Łódź, marking the 35th anniversary of the Faculty.

  • Conference Theme: Social Work Research in the Context of Social Divisions: Knowledge, Practice, and Change
  • Dates: 14–15 October 2026 (pre- and post-conference events will take place on 13 and 16 October)
  • Venue: Łódź, Poland (Faculty of Educational Sciences, Aleja Rodziny Scheiblerów 2)

Key Thematic Sessions:

  1. Research Methodologies for Divided Societies
  2. Research Traditions and Intellectual Lineages in Social Work
  3. Knowledge Production in Social Work Research
  4. The Impact of Social Work Research on Social Reality

The academic programme features keynote lectures by internationally recognized scholars—including Walter Lorenz, Marek Czyżewski, Hilaria Soundari, and Ondrej Botek—as well as two poster sessions (including the YOUROPE Poster Session showcasing youth community-led action research).

Important Deadlines and Fees:

  • 31 July 2026: Abstract submission deadline & Conference fee payment deadline
  • 10 September 2026: Registration for pre- and post-conference events (study visits and guided tours)
  • Conference Fee: €120 for students / €200 for other participants (includes participant materials, 2 lunches, coffee breaks, a gala dinner, and a study visit/city tour).

Following a peer-review process, full papers submitted after the conference may be considered for publication in special issues of academic journals, including Czech and Slovak Social Work / Sociální práce | Sociálna práca (indexed in Scopus).

For more details, please see the full conference announcement. soubor pdf 1,55 MB

Organising Committee

The International Conference of the European Research Institute for Social Work (ERIS) is driven by a dedicated team.

Organising Committee
From left to right: Małgorzata Kostrzyńska, Anita Gulczyńska, Aleksandra Szczepaniak, Błażej Wojdała, Izabela Kamińska-Jatczak

Members of the Organising Committee:

Dr Anita Gulczyńska
ERIS Vice-Director (Deputy)
Dr Małgorzata Kostrzyńska
Aleksandra Szczepaniak, MA
Dr Błażej Wojdała
Dr Izabela Kamińska-Jatczak


Updated: 10. 07. 2026