On 22–23 October 2026, I participated in the NORWEL symposium “Social work in times of conflicts and war – how do geopolitics impact social problems, practice and research?” at UiT The Arctic University of Norway.

The symposium also featured inspiring presentations from guest speakers, addressing current issues in social work and child welfare.

As part of the programme, I presented preliminary findings from my study, focusing on leadership perspectives on the use of individual plans in NAV. Based on digital interviews with ten leaders from seven NAV offices across Norway, the study explored how leaders understand their responsibility for IP-use to support service coordination and user participation.

I particularly appreciated the opportunity to meet other researchers, exchange perspectives, and engage in constructive discussions about our ongoing work. Such arenas are valuable for building connections, gaining new insights, and receiving feedback in a supportive research community.