Paula Sousa

Paula Sousa is a Professor of Social Work at the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD) in Portugal. She holds a PhD in Social Work from the Catholic University of Portugal (2014), alongside earlier degrees in Social Work (1995), Educational Sciences (2000), and a Master's (2004). Her career spans social work practice (1995–2002) and teaching in social work programs (2002–2015). She is affiliated with the European Social Work Research Association (ESWRA) and leads the Territorial Transitions & Wellbeing (T2WELL) research group.

Research Focus: Her work centers on Social Work Education, Professional Identity, Diversity & Difference, School Social Work, and Practice Research. Key themes include cultural competence, institutional professional identity, and diagnostic evaluation methodologies.

Publications: Recent contributions address professional identity in social work, culturally competent practices, and educational frameworks. She has authored/co-authored journal articles, book chapters, and edited volumes exploring social work sustainability, migration policies, and school-community linkages.

Engagement: Active in research groups like Douro SocioEcoLL and Data4LowDensity, and contributes to international projects on socio-ecological challenges. Her work bridges academic research with practical interventions in educational and community settings.