The SOLID project is focused on the further development of social work as a research field and professional discipline in Central Asia and China. SOLID specifically addresses social work with marginalised populations, such as people who use drugs and people living with HIV. The core areas are:

  • social work and the treatment of drug dependence with a focus on the use of opioids, synthetic drugs, alcohol, and nicotine; psychosocial support and counseling for people with substance use disorders is also a focus in this area
  • social work and communicable diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis C) with an emphasis on prevention and harm reduction programmes
  • social work with people in closed facilities, e.g. prisons or locked or closed healthcare units.

The SOLID project is oriented around the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SGD 3 (Health and Well-being), SGD 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SGD 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

The Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm collaborates with partners institutions in China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. An important part of the project is the doctoral programme in social work, which the Ohm is developing together with its partner institutions. The doctoral projects are thematically related to the three core areas of the SOLID project. Through their involvement in the SOLID network, doctoral researchers will benefit from high visibility for their research projects, as the network facilitates outreach and cooperation with international organisations such as WHO, UNDP, and UNODC.

The project is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with resources from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) within the framework of the exceed programme (Excellence Centers for Exchange and Development). 
exceed - Excellence Centers for Exchange and Development

Project leader: Prof. Daniel Deimel

Collaborators: Dr. Meryem Grabski, Dr. Ingo Ilja Michels, Dr. Ulla Pape

Project duration: 1 March 2025 – 31 December 2029