Overview
The Culture & Psychology (C&P) School is sponsored by the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP) and held annually before the IACCP conferences. It is designed as an educational forum for doctoral and master's level students and early scholars, providing them with research-intensive and interactive learning experiences. Students have the opportunity to receive specialised training from renowned experts who integrate cultural aspects into fields of psychology.
The C&P School promotes the development of comprehensive research skills, fostering international collaborations, honing effective grant-writing skills, and mastering the intricacies of scientific manuscript analysis and preparation. The primary goal is to create a safe and productive environment that encourages networking and interaction among peers and faculty.
In addition, the C&P School strongly emphasises the practical application of research findings and emphasises the critical need for interdisciplinary collaboration. This academic endeavour serves as a critical precursor to the IACCP conferences and contributes significantly to advancing knowledge in cross-cultural psychology.
Names of committee members: Alex English (Chair), Natasza Kosakowska-Berezecka, Saba Safdar, Ariane Virgona and Marie Kollek, Student representatives.
IACCP Culture & Psychology School July 11 - 14 2026
Overview
The C&P School, sponsored by the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP), is open to PhD and Master level students who are interested in the intersection of culture and psychology.The C&P School provides a research-intensive and interactive experience for participants from various universities to learn from one another and to receive specialized training from experts in different fields that incorporate culture in their study of psychology.
The C&P School precedes the IACCP 28th Congress and will be held in Ghent, Belgium.
IACCP C&P School focuses on methodology and supports the development of broad research skills, research in emotions, cross-cultural research integrating AI and machine learning, and how cross-cultural psychology responds in the time of crisis. Our goal is to stimulate networking and interactions with peers and instructors in a safe and productive environment.
The program:
Students will be able to choose two content streams from potentially 4 streams. Please note that all streams will be in-person.
STREAM 1 - Methodological Innovations for Acculturation Research.
Led by Dr. Ali Elhami (Unicaf University, Cyprus)
This 10-hour intensive stream equips researchers with the complete toolkit to conduct rigorous qualitative studies in acculturation. We begin by exploring the philosophical assumptions—ontology and epistemology—that underpin qualitative inquiry, moving into specialized research designs tailored for cultural transition. Participants will gain hands-on experience with data collection tools, including semi-structured interviewing and the application of Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) to navigate cross-cultural dynamics.
A core component of the stream is the transition from raw data to insight: students will master various analysis methods, learning the mechanics of thematic coding and data interpretation. Through collaborative group work, participants will apply these techniques to real-world scenarios, ensuring they are knowledgeable enough to design, execute, and analyze a qualitative study independently. By blending theoretical depth with practical application, this stream empowers the next generation of researchers to capture the nuanced, human narratives that drive cultural change.
STREAM 2 - Cross-Cultural Emotions Research
Led by Prof. Dr. Johnny Fontaine (Ghent University, Belgium), Dr. Alexander Kirchner-Häusler (Institute for the Future of Human Society, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan), Prof Dr. Jozefien De Leersnyder (Center for Social and Cultural Psychology at KU Leuven, Belgium), Jun. Prof. Dr. Igor de Almeida (Kyoto University, Japan), Dr. Alba Jasini (Center for Social and Cultural Psychology at KU Leuven, Belgium)
The stream will discuss four important topics in cross-cultural emotion research. The topics are organized from psycholinguistic research of emotion words, over the application of large-language models for analyzing qualitative emotion descriptions and over interpersonal co-construction of emotion to emotional acculturation. Each of these will deal with discussions about the emotion-culture relationships and present new methodological developments to analyze data. The topics will be taught by instructors who have contributed and still actively contribute to research on these topics.
STREAM 3 – Cultural Variation and Cultural Evolution
Led by Dr. Khandis Blake (University of Melbourne, Australia)
The stream will explore how ecological and demographic environments shape patterns of human behaviour and cultural variation. Students would be introduced to two related frameworks: cultural evolution and human behavioural ecology. Cultural evolution, a field influenced by population genetics, examines how behaviours, beliefs, and technologies change over time through processes analogous to biological evolution—variation, transmission, and selection—acting on culturally transmitted traits. Human behavioural ecology, in turn, examines how natural selection has shaped humans to flexibly adjust behavioural strategies in response to local ecological and social conditions.
Using these perspectives, the stream would examine how factors such as climate, pathogen prevalence, gender and income inequality, population density, and sex ratios influence social behaviour, norms, and decision-making. Though these frameworks may be unfamiliar to some attendees, they provide powerful tools for understanding cultural variation across time and space, and for bridging nature/nurture disciplines.
The goal is to give students a framework for understanding why behavioural and cultural patterns differ systematically across societies and contexts. In this sense, the stream complements cultural psychology by offering additional tools for explaining cultural variation, with particular attention to the role of ecological constraints, incentives, and demographic conditions.
STREAM 4 - Cross-Cultural Psychology in Times of Crisis.
Led by Dr. Laura De Pretto (Leeds Trinity University, UK), Dr. Cameron Downing (University of York), Dr. Marshall Valencia (University of the Philippines)
Across the world, psychologists are increasingly called upon to study phenomena such as migration, environmental threats, inequality, and social instability. These contexts present particular methodological challenges: samples are often heterogeneous and uneven, research settings may be politically or ethically sensitive, and researchers must balance theoretical rigor with applied impact. This stream aims to help early career researchers navigate these challenges by combining conceptual reflection with practical methodological guidance tailored specifically to cross-cultural research.
Note: You will also be encouraged to do some preparatory work before the course. The stream leaders will provide reading lists and specific tasks for you to realize before C&P School.
Admission:
Applicants will need to submit (a) a (maximum 250-word) cover letter of intent that explains why the student wishes to join the C&P School, and (b) the student’s curriculum vitae. These documents will be submitted with a completed online application no later than April 12th, 2026. A decision letter will be emailed by April 20th, 2026. Accepted applicants must pay a registration fee and agree to join the IACCP conference. Online registration and payment must be made by May 10th, 2026.
Costs:
- USD $355 for student members from upper middle-income countries or
- USD $240 for student members from lower-middle income countries or below (following IACCP standard).
Attendees who are not members of IACCP will add $50, unless registration for membership is completed one month prior to the congress early bird registration.
The Calendar
April 12th, 2026: Deadline for application submission (11:59pm GMT)
April 20th, 2026: Decisions on applications
May 10th, 2026: Deadline for registration and payment May 31st, 2026: Pre-materials available for participants July 11th -14th, 2026: C&P School (In-person)
Accommodation & Logistics
The sessions will take place in Ghent, Belgium. More information will be released later. Accommodations, breakfast, and lunch are covered by the registration fee.
Accommodation will include three nights (July 11th to 14th).
Application and Further Info
Please use the following link to apply and send your CV and application letter. https://unioflimerick.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6teJBND4fhv4Cr4
If you have any questions about the program, the stream leaders, or the general procedure, please do not hesitate to contact us at: cultureandpsychologyschool@gmail.com.
We hope to see you this Summer!
C&P School Organizers
- Saba Safdar, University of Guelph, Canada
- Alex English, Wenzhou-Kean University, China
- Natasza Kosakowska-Berezecka, University of Gdansk, Poland
- Marie Kollek, Student Member, University of Hildesheim, Germany
- Liliyana Mbeve, Student Member, University of Limerick, Ireland