Birgit Forster

Birgit Forster is a Lecturer within the Department of Social Work and Community Studies at Birmingham City University, having joined the institution in November 2020. She serves as module lead for equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice on the BSc (Hons) Social Work program, leveraging over two decades of international social work experience across Germany and the UK.

Her educational qualifications include:

• Master’s in Professional Education and Training, Kingston University (2017)
• Social Work Qualification, Germany (2001)

Birgit’s professional focus centers on advancing social justice through anti-oppressive frameworks in social work practice. She actively develops international social work education via collaboration with the University of Applied Science Landshut in Germany, while maintaining expertise in child protection systems, migration/asylum contexts, and fostering services developed during her frontline career.

Since 2015, she has supervised social work students during practice placements and mentored newly qualified practitioners through the ASYE Academy. Her teaching integrates direct experience from statutory child and family services in London (2005-2017) and West Midlands child protection roles (2018 onwards), emphasizing real-world application of equality and diversity principles.