The First International Positive Psychology Conference of China

Friday 2010/8/13 – Sunday 2010/8/15

Beijing Normal University, China

 

First Announcement

We are very pleased to announce that the International Positive Education  Conference of China will be held in Beijing, China, Friday 2010/8/13 – Sunday 2010/8/15. This conference aims to promote Positive Education in China.

It’s our honor to invite you to this meeting. You will join about 1000 scholars, teachers, school principals and staffs, mental health works, to listen from leading positive psychologists and positive education practitioners in the world, including Dr. Martin Seligman, Dr. Christopher Peterson, Dr. Felicia Huppert, Dr. John Abela, Dr. Nansook Park and Dr. Stephen Meek.

 

Background

Ever since the beginning of the positive psychology movement, education has been considered one of its natural fields of application. Positive psychologists proposed the idea of “Positive Education” which argues that education should teach both traditional skills and those that contribute to happiness. This is necessary, as the latter has historically been largely ignored in most schools. As a result, the mental health of students all over the world lags far behind economic and social progress. Nearly 20% of youth have symptoms of depression, and the average age of first depression onset has creped into the teen years.

 

This problem is even bigger in China, as Chinese education traditionally focuses almost solely on the academic performance of students. There are complaints of exhaustion from both students and teachers. Students lack the education in non-exam skills like leadership, social intelligence and physical activities. The crime rate and suicide rate of students keep rising in recent years.

 

The Chinese Department of Education initiated new education reforms that target to reduce the school works for students and improve comprehensive ability. It had some effect, but only in a small degree. Psychological health is also gradually gaining attention in Chinese schools, but it still needs substantial development and support.

 

We believe this is where positive psychology can help. Positive psychology has empirically validated interventions and methods to help children flourish in all areas of life. For example, the Penn Resilience Project has been shown to significantly improve the resilience and optimism of children, as well as decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety. Geelong Grammar School implemented positive education, making students happier, parents more satisfied, and teachers and staff more content at work. More importantly, there's evidence that positive education facilitates both academic performance and the well-being of students.

 

We feel honored and excited to host this conference to establish the dialogue between local and international positive education practitioners. We plan to develop a 3-5 year plan to test positive education programs in Beijing (1,876 elementary and middle schools,1.25 million elementary and middle school students) after the conference. We will evaluate and research on the output of the programs. If successful, these programs will be disseminated to the national scale to promote positive educations in 250 million students.

 

Conference Topics

Character Strengths: Nurture the character strengths and positive traits of the youth

Well-Being Education: Theories and methods of promoting well-being in the classroom

Positive Practices: Practical results and experience of positive education

Resilience and Optimism: Promote resilience and optimism of the youth

Invited speakers

Martin Seligman, University of Pennsylvania, USA (video)

Christopher Peterson, University of Michigan, USA

Felicia Huppert, Cambridge University, UK

Stephen Meek, Geelong Grammar School, Australia

John Abela, Rutgers University, USA

Nansook Park, University of Michigan, USA

Anthony Seldon，Principal，Wellington College，United Kingdom

 

Permission

The Chinese Department of Education

 

Sponsor

Mental Health Education in Middle and Junior Schools

Division of Primary Education of the Chinese Department of Education

 

Hosts

School of psychology, Beijing Normal University

International Positive Psychology Association, IPPA

Research Center for Moral Education, Beijing Academy of Educational Science

Journal of Mental Health Education in Middle and Junior Schools(China)

Global Chinese Positive Psychology Association

 

Cooperators

Jinagsu Psychology Association

Inner Mongolia Academy of Educational Science

Zhejiang Academy of Educational Science

Anhui Academy of Educational Science

Fujian Normal University

Chongqing Academy of Educational Science

Xiamen Academy of Educational Science

Bureau of Education of Shijiazhuang

 

How to participate

Please contact:

Li Yiqian, Wang Ce: (++86)10-82563556、83724720, lyq1919@126.com

Wang Qi, Bai Yuping: (++86)10-84648878,wangqi@medu.cn or baiyuping@medu.cn

Registration Time: March 1^st 2010 – July 15^th 2010

 

 

The Organizing Committee of the International

Positive Education Conference of China

February 24,2010