NEISSR, Peace Centre, 7th Mile, Chümoukedima welcomed Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work students on January 21.
Chümoukedima, JANUARY 22 (MExN): The North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR), Peace Centre, 7th Mile, Chümoukedima, welcomed Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) students on January 21 with a vision-setting address by Dr Fr CP Anto, Principal, titled “The Architect of Social Change: Mastering the 30 Essential Skills.”
The address marked the beginning of the three-day orientation programme and outlined NEISSR’s philosophy of skill-based, mission-driven social work education.
Addressing the students, Dr Fr Anto said that entering the campus is “not merely an admission into a college, but an entry into a mission-driven laboratory for social transformation.” NEISSR reiterated that a Social Work degree is “not a certificate of what one has read, but a testament to the skills one masters and the lives one is prepared to uplift.”
Highlighting the role of practitioners in bridging the gap between theory and reality, social workers were described as “social architects” who employ high-level competencies to rebuild broken systems and respond to complex social challenges. In this context, NEISSR introduced its framework of 30 essential professional and life skills, clarifying that these skills are developed progressively throughout all semesters and are not confined to the orientation programme alone.
The importance of “The Art of Engagement” was stressed, with counselling and empathetic listening emphasized as professional interventions rather than emotional responses. Students were oriented towards developing cultural competence and inclusivity to work effectively within the diverse social fabric of the North East. Emotional intelligence and stress management were highlighted as essential capacities that enable practitioners to support others without compromising their own well-being.
