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| Asian Psychological Association | |
|---|---|
| Name | Asian Psychological Association |
| Abbreviation | APA (note: not to be confused with other bodies) |
| Formation | 1980s |
| Type | Professional association |
| Region | Asia-Pacific |
| Headquarters | Tokyo |
| Leader title | President |
Asian Psychological Association
The Asian Psychological Association is a regional professional body representing psychologists across Asia and the Asia-Pacific, promoting scholarly exchange, clinical standards, and applied research. Founded during a period of transnational institutional growth, it bridges networks among institutions in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. The association engages with universities, hospitals, research councils, and intergovernmental forums to shape practice and policy across diverse cultural contexts.
The association emerged amid postwar institutional realignments and the rise of regional bodies such as United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office, and Asian Development Bank. Early milestones involved collaborations with University of Tokyo, Peking University, National University of Singapore, University of Delhi, and University of Hong Kong scholars who had trained at Harvard University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Stanford University. Founding conferences referenced precedents set by Indian Psychological Association, Chinese Psychological Society, Japanese Psychological Association, Korean Psychological Association, and Australian Psychological Society. Key figures included academics affiliated with Columbia University, Yale University, University of California, Berkeley, and recipients of awards such as the Guggenheim Fellowship, Fulbright Program, and national honors like the Order of the Rising Sun. Over subsequent decades the association expanded alongside regional research centers such as Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Ramathibodi Hospital, and think tanks including Asian Development Bank Institute.
Governance follows elected structures similar to those of American Psychological Association, British Psychological Society, and European Federation of Psychologists' Associations. The executive board has included members from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (India), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan), and Ministry of Health (Singapore), and advisors drawn from World Health Organization, UNICEF, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Committees mirror standing groups at National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council (UK), and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, overseeing ethics, scientific affairs, finance, and outreach. Legal and financial frameworks reference statutes used by Non-Governmental Organizations and registration precedents in jurisdictions such as Japan, India, Singapore, China, and Malaysia.
Membership integrates academics, clinicians, and policymakers affiliated with institutions like Seoul National University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Aga Khan University, Mahidol University, Chulalongkorn University, University of the Philippines, and University of Colombo. Professional cohorts include licenced practitioners connected to bodies such as Psychological Society of Hong Kong, Bangladesh Psychological Association, and Pakistan Psychological Association. Regional chapters often mirror administrative hubs in cities like Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Mumbai, Bangkok, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Tehran, and Dubai. Affiliated student groups maintain ties with programs at National Taiwan University, Yonsei University, IIT Bombay, University of Santo Tomas, and University of Malaya.
Annual congresses rotate among host sites previously organized in partnership with Beijing Normal University, Osaka University, University of Melbourne, Universiti Malaya, University of Delhi, and American University of Beirut. The association has convened symposia featuring invited speakers from Princeton University, University of Chicago, Imperial College London, and McGill University, and coordinated panels with entities such as Asian Development Bank and World Bank. Thematic workshops have addressed topics featured at forums like G7 Summit, ASEAN summit, and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and have included training modules modelled on programs at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
The association publishes peer-reviewed journals and monograph series with editorial boards including scholars from King's College London, University of British Columbia, National University of Singapore, Peking University, and Kyoto University. Collaborative research initiatives have partnered with funding agencies such as National Science Foundation (United States), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, European Research Council, and national research councils in India, China, and Australia. Major projects address mental health trends studied in cohorts associated with Harvard Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Singapore General Hospital, and longitudinal datasets drawn from national surveys conducted by Statistics Bureau of Japan and Census of India.
Training programs align with curricula at institutions like University of Melbourne, University of Oxford, Harvard University, University of Tokyo, and regional accreditation models similar to those used by American Psychological Association and British Psychological Society. The association runs certificate courses and clinical placements in collaboration with hospitals such as Samsung Medical Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Christian Medical College Vellore, and rehabilitation centers linked to World Health Organization. Continuing professional development credits are recognised by licensing authorities in territories including Japan, Singapore, India, and Hong Kong.
Through partnerships with international organizations such as World Health Organization, United Nations, UNICEF, and Asian Development Bank, the association influences public mental health initiatives, crisis response, and policy dialogues. Collaborative outputs have informed national practice guidelines used by ministries exemplified by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (India), Ministry of Health (Singapore), and Ministry of Health and Welfare (Republic of Korea), and contributed to reports published with think tanks including Brookings Institution and Chatham House. The association's network fosters exchanges with research institutes such as Asia Research Institute (National University of Singapore), Institute of Mental Health (Singapore), NIMHANS, and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (King's College London) to advance psychological science across the region.
Category:Psychology organizations Category:Professional associations in Asia