History

At the beginning of the 20th century, two women from Zurich, Mentona Moser and Maria Fierz, initiated their "Introductory courses for women helping with social duties", abbreviated to "welfare courses".  These courses laid the foundation for social work by women in Switzerland. In 1920, these courses gained professional status and the "Social School for Women in Zurich" was established. From the early 1950s, more and more men developed an interest in this former profession for women and started attending the Social School for Women in Zurich. In 1955 the school was renamed the "School of Social Work Zurich" (SSAZ).

The Zurich law on universities of applied sciences was approved in 1998 and the SSAZ became part of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. The name changed to "Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit" HSSAZ (University of Social Work).

In September 2007 the HSSAZ merged with the University of Applied Psychology, the Zurich University of Applied Sciences Winterthur and the Hochschule Wädenswil to become the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences. It has since been operating under the name ZHAW School of Social Work. The merger was due to a decision by the Committee on Universities of Applied Sciences of the Canton of Zurich in October 2003.

Today social work is a recognised field of study at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. Every year the School of Social Work provides 500 to 600 students with science-based and practice-focused training for professions in the entire field of social work. The Bachelor in Social Work has been offered since 2005, while the Master degrees will follow in 2008. The School of Social Work also offers a wide range of continuing education courses designed to improve and update the skills of professional social workers. The lecturers make a substantial contribution to scientific research and the development of theories in the field of social work, thereby guaranteeing top-quality training in this area.  Through their involvement in service projects they also put their knowledge and skills at the service of professionals in the practice of social work. The Social Services information platform www.infostelle.ch went online in 2006.