SELF is a biennial international conference series hosted by the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education (IPPE). Learn more about the most recent event and how the conference has evolved over time, and find out dates for the next conference.

About the conference

The biennial SELF conferences provide a unique forum to present and discuss cutting-edge research on self theory, measurement, research, and practice.

The conference series is an initiative of the International Global SELF Research Centre, which is directed by Herbert W Marsh and headquartered at ACU’s IPPE.

The International Global SELF Research Centre is a virtual network with more than 700 members and satellite research centres at leading universities around the world. Its members include many of the world’s leading self and identity researchers.

For details of the upcoming SELF 2019 conference, check this page soon.

 

SELF 2017

IPPE hosted the ninth SELF Biennial International Conference at the Melbourne Campus in September 2017. 

SELF 2017 explored the theme ‘SELF: from positive psychology/education to practice, and featured keynote speakers including:

  • Roy Baumeister 
  • Stuart Biddle
  • Ed Deci
  • John Hattie
  • Michael Hogg
  • Timothy Judge 
  • Katariina Salmela-Aro
  • Reinhard Pekrun 
  • Michael Wehmeyer.

The SELF 2017 theme, ‘SELF: from positive psychology/education to practice’, explored the synergy between scientific researchers and practitioners. 

In addition to scientific papers, posters and keynotes, the conference included a hands-on, practical stream demonstrating how to conduct evidence-based interventions.

SELF 2017 featured an invited symposium on Indigenous Thriving, led by the new Australian Centre of Indigenous Thriving (ACIT) that is housed within IPPE.

A brief history of SELF

SELF started as a boutique conference in the Blue Mountains in Sydney, Australia, in 2000. Now an international event, it has yielded more than a decade of interesting SELF research, networking and collaboration.

Find out more about previous conferences below.

The eight edition of SELF was in Kiel, Germany, and co-hosted by Professors Olaf Koller (Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education) and Jens Moller (Kiel University). 

The Seventh Global SELF conference was organised by Professors Wang and Liu at the Singapore Institute of Education. It expanded international membership from Europe and Asia.

The Sixth Global SELF conference at Laval University, Quebec, Canada under the convenorship of Professor Frédéric Guay, saw a growing membership of USA and Canadian scholars.

The fifth Global SELF conference was organised by Professor Maher Abu Hilal. 

Held at the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it attracted colleagues and new members from around the world and particularly the UAE and Europe.

The fourth Global SELF conference was held at the University of Michigan under the leadership of Professor Jacque Eccles. 

It saw yet a further increase in the number of international colleagues and presentations joining the Global SELF Research Centre as members.

While the first two conferences were convened by the SELF Research Centre, the interest in Global SELF Satellite Centres increased to such an extent that the third Global SELF Conference was held at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, Germany.

Convened by Professor Jurgen Baumart, the conference was very successful and the international community was well-represented.

The second conference was held in the Sydney suburb of Manly, Australia, and was convened again by Professors Marsh, McInerney and Craven. 

It again attracted even more international colleagues and was a huge success, with many keynote speaker, and presenters.

The inaugural conference was conceived by Professors Marsh, Craven and McInerney, and attracted academics from several countries.

The demand for such a valuable networking opportunity was so great it was clear there would be continued interest.

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