Bridging academia and the field
Academic rigor from Nordic research institutions, grounded in a decade of hands-on practice in post-war and transitional societies.
Dr. Aleksandar Bozic is an Associate Professor (Førsteamanuensis) at the Department of Social Studies, University of Stavanger (UiS), Norway. He holds a PhD in Social Work and Sociology from the University of Agder, Norway, a Master's degree in Communities, Organisations and Social Change from City St George's, University of London, and a Bachelor's in Social Work from the University of Banja Luka.
Before academia, he spent over a decade as a social work and social development practitioner in post-war and transitional contexts, collaborating with UNICEF, UNDP, Save the Children, local welfare organizations and public authorities — designing, managing, monitoring and evaluating programmes on children and youth at risk, violence prevention, adult mental health and transitional justice for youth. As a programme manager, he directly developed and co-created innovative psychosocial services for diverse user groups, as well as community-based interventions. That experience now grounds his research and consulting in field reality.
He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Comparative Social Work (JCSW), holds leadership and science-communication roles in European COST Actions, and has lectured at universities in Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cuba, Norway, Somaliland, Switzerland and the UK. He works in English, Norwegian, Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian.
Where I bring depth
Six thematic areas, anchored in social innovation and collaborative service development.
Social innovation, interprofessional collaboration & co-creation
How social services organisations, public agencies, NGOs and communities co-create innovative welfare solutions — from Nordic municipal co-creation processes to fragile and post-conflict settings.
Post-war & transitional contexts
Designing, managing and evaluating social programmes in societies undergoing post-conflict recovery and welfare transition, including transitional justice for youth and rebuilding community services.
Child protection & welfare systems
Child welfare policies, alternative care models (including Family Group Conferencing) and mental health interventions for children and youth at risk.
Migration & transnational families
Migrant and transnational family dynamics, psychosocial services for children in migration, cross-border social work and integration policies.
School-based preventive interventions
Evidence-based school programmes covering bullying prevention, inclusion and intercultural diversity, with a focus on migrant and minority children and youth.
Civil society & NGO governance
Strengthening the role of non-profit organizations within national social welfare systems and shaping third-sector participation in social policy.