Dries Claessens (°1977) studied social work and sociology. Since 2004 he has been working as a lecturer Social Work at the Artesis Plantijn University College in Antwerp. There he teaches a variety of human and social science subjects such as ‘methodology’, ‘politics and social policy’ and ‘historical & current perspectives for social workers’.
He has previously conducted practice-based research on activation practices in Flanders and on the situation of older prisoners inside and outside the prison system. He is author of the book ‘A History of Social Work’ (EPO, 2017).