August 27, 2008
The 4-th National Conference of Psychology “Dialog for Diversity”, Timisoara, 23-25 May, 2008
Mihaela Chraif
EJOP Editor
Timisoara hosted the 4-th National Conference of Psychology “Dialog for Diversity” from 23-25 May, to bring together some of the most exciting and influential research findings in the areas of organizational psychology, educational psychology and psychotherapy.
The organizing committee was lead by Professor Zoltan Boghaty, PhD, and involved the Psychologists Association from Romania, the Euroregional Center of Applied Psychology and the Faculty of Psychology, Vest-University Timisoara.
Figure 1 The Vest-University, Timisoara, headquarter of the National Conference
Throughout its history, the National Conferences of Psychology started in 2002 with the first National Conference of Psychology in Romania, Neptun beach.
Figure 2 The Opening speech: PdD, Professor Nicolae Mitrofan, General manager profiles International, Doru Dima, PhD, PhD Prof. Mircea Miclea, PhD Professor Zoltan Boghaty, PhD Lecturer Florin Sava.
The conference agenda included four days of keynote presentations, continuing education, and professional workshops organized to promote interchange, dialogue and, collaboration among counseling psychology practitioners and academicians, mid-career professionals, early career professionals and students from around the world.
The keynote speakers were renown psychologists with experience in both science and practice fields from the main domains of psychology: psychotherapy, work psychology, organizational psychology, educational psychology.
Figure 3 Keynote speaker: Prof. Zoltan Boghaty
Topics of great importance to counseling psychologists included science and practice, multiculturalism and diversity, a developmental, strength based, and prevention approach to psychological problems, career and vocational psychology, attention to global and international psychology, supervision and training, health psychology, and counseling processes and outcomes.
Figure 4 Workshop: Computerized system in driving abilities testing: Dr. G. Schuhfried and Mrs. Maria Gieln.
An important role in education and scientific development has been played by the workshops.
The workshops were addressed to the specialists in the field of I/O Psychology, theorists and practitioners in the field of Human Resources, specialists in psychotherapy, educational psychology as well as to students and PhD students who prepare for a career in the different fields of Psychology and Human Resources Management.
Figure 5 workshop: Mental maps and Social representation, Dr. Ricardo Garcia Mira, University of Corunia, Spain.
Dr. Ricardo explained a way of combinating Cluster Analysis with Multidimensional scaling analysys. In this case, the subjects evaluated the scale of items for measuring Enviromental Atitudes.
Figure 6 The closing Ceremony: Prof Ruxandra Rascanu, PhD, Lect. Florin Sava, PhD and Conf. Ticu Constantin, PhD.
The 4th National Conference of Psychology targeted psychology practitioners whose jobs often make it difficult to keep up with the rapid scientific progress of the different fields.
The conference offered a platform for dialogue, professional development and networking for academicians, practitioners and researchers. It was a great opportunity for mentoring of students and early career psychologists by leaders in the field.
National and global issues facing the field of counseling psychology had been addressed - through continuing education, working groups on section presentation, workshops and legislative advocacy.
Figure 7 Timisoara at night