MFamily World

Welcome to the MFamily World Platform

Our Mission

The MFamily Web Platform is a student-run initiative aimed at strengthening community and interconnectedness among all people involved with the Erasmus Mundus Joint European Master of Social Work with Families and Children. Since 2013, the two-year long MFamily Program has provided an opportunity for students to be immersed in cross-cultural experiences by studying higher-level education in four partner universities in Portugal, Norway, Sweden, and Uganda.

To support and foster connection and international cooperation among the MFamily community.
To provide space and opportunity for students and alumni to share ideas, opportunities, and inspiration with one another.

Our Vision

The MFamily Web Platform aspires to be a central link between students, alumni, professors, institutions, and interested parties across the globe, promoting a sense of community and supporting lifelong learning, discovery, and engagement.

A Life-Changing Opportunity: The Erasmus Mundus European Master in Social Work with Families and Children (MFamily) Program

The Erasmus Mundus European Master in Social Work with Families and Children (MFamily) is a two-year-long-program

Let's hear from our MFamily Alumni!

Hear all about Mfamily alumni experiences

Natalie Bull

5th Cohort Graduate-Canada

Q: What is your best piece of advice for new MFamily Students?
A: Travel as much as you possibly can! While you are in Portugal, travelling is the most affordable and accessible. While in Norway, take advantage of hiking in the fjords and take the occasional cheap flight to Poland! And be open-minded, the more open you are, the more you will learn about people, places and culture. Oh, and go to conferences to start networking early, time will fly by and before you know it you will need a job, internship or reference letters.

Katya Nogales

1st Cohort Graduate- Bolivia

Q: How has your experience doing a PhD been and would you recommend it to other Mfamily graduates?
A: Doing a PhD is with no doubt a bumpy ride; it comes along a great deal of personal and professional challenges. It demands a lot of autonomy, commitment, perseverance, responsibility, organization, drive, and of course research and analytical skills. Even under the best circumstances one must be prepared to face changes, delays and uncertainty. However, on the way you will also have the experience to grow beyond expectations, enjoy the opportunity of deepening your knowledge, meet a lot of inspiring people, and see your babies (projects/publications) mature. I wouldn’t recommend this path to everyone, it’s a choice that one must carefully evaluate. Now, if you like spending hours and hours reading about a subject, if you like the detective work that managing data takes, and most importantly if you’re ready and have the patience to put 4 to 5 years into something you believe can generate very useful knowledge, then this is your path!... Lastly, a couple of advices, be careful when selecting your program, university and supervisor; and be mindful of your limitations and strengths when writing your application. Both are key factors for your success! Curricula and duties, supervision styles and required set of skills come in all shapes and forms. Don’t forget to make a good case on the professional and personals skill you have that might guarantee your success.

Raffy Caceres Vigil

3rd Cohort Graduate-Phillipines

Q: Can you tell us a bit about what you have been doing since you graduated?
A: I am a 3rd cohort MFAMILY graduate (2015-2017). I went back home (Philippines) and did taught Social Work subjects for few months as an instructor in one institution and engaged in freelance social work licensure lecturer/coach. Starting July of 2018, I got accepted and hired as the regional focal person of the country's Council for the Welfare of Children, the primary coordinative body that ensures proper enforcement of all child-related laws and monitors the implementation of all programs, projects, services and plans for children. In my performance of duties and responsibility as a focal person, I was able to introduce innovations such as helping establish a regional association for and led by children representatives from all provinces at the regional level and pionering the conduct of Children Information and Learning Exchange Activity (CILEA) which primarily aims to discuss provincial data and establishing databank on children and use the same to initiate evidence-based interventions and programs for children

Nancy Gutierrez Olivares

6th Cohort Student-Mexico

Q: " As a current MFamily student, what kind of day-to-day challenges do you face and how do you overcome them?"
A:"I would feel that I am ungrateful if I say that this program has brought me "many challenges", especially since, in general, challenges are seen a bit as unpleasant-things-going-through. From this experience, everything (easy and not so easy) has been wonderful, in the end, it is learning.

In my day to day, most things have been a combination of study-fun, exams-laughs, readings-hugs, home exams-little crying, more readings, a lot of food and snacks, more readings and more readings…but if I must pick an "unpleasant-thing", that would be the fact that, since the first day I arrived in Portugal, I knwew this experience has an end. Even though in Stavanger you could feel that the end is still far far away, when you finally reach Gothenburg and everyone starts to split around, you realize, the end is close than ever.

Every day is one day less in the adventure ... so enjoy and take full advantage of this privileged opportunity. Make every day count, that is the GREAT DAY TO DAY CHALLENGE."

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