In Florence, an honorary degree goes to the psychologist José María Peiró

The University of Florence today awarded the honorary Master’s Degree in Life Cycle and Context Psychology to José María Peiró, professor emeritus of Social and Organizational Psychology at the University of Valencia and former president of the International Association of Applied Psychology (Iaap), the oldest and most prestigious in the world in this sector, founded in 1920. At the beginning of the ceremony a minute of silence was observed to remember the victims of the Valencia flood.

The title – awarded for “exceptional contribution in applied psychology and in the psychology of work and organizations” – was presented to José María Peiró by the rector of the University, Alessandra Petrucci, in a ceremony held in the Aula Magna of the Rectorate.

“Peiró’s research – stated the rector Petrucci in her speech – aims to clarify the complex relationship between well-being and fulfillment at work, and the effective performance and productivity of workers in companies and organizations. I am pleased that Professor José María Peiró receives this recognition for having explored these themes, which are very dear to our University.”

After the greetings of Vanna Boffo, director of the Department of Education, Languages, Interculture, Literature and Psychology (Forlilpsi), the figure of the scholar was presented in the laudatio held by Annamaria Di Fabio, Unifi professor of Work and Organizational Psychology. Caterina Primi, president of the School of Psychology, was present. José María Peiró then gave a masterclass on “Applied Psychology in the 21st Century. Challenges and opportunities”.

Born in Torrent (Valencia) in 1950, José María Peiró has dealt with issues relating to work stress, climate and organizational culture, the construction – including preventive – of well-being and sustainability. “He promoted – we read in the motivation – cross-cultural collaboration, developing applied psychology on a global level and contributing to the innovation of postgraduate studies in the discipline”, with great rigor and passion for research and intervention in contexts real.

He has been actively collaborating for about 20 years with the University of Florence in the perspective of Healthy Organizations, Decent Work and Sustainable Development, promoting good practices anchored to the results of empirical research for technology transfer. He contributed to the development of many scientific associations, starting with the European Association of Applied Psychology (Eawop), and to the worldwide development of the International Association of Applied Psychology (Iaap), of which he was president. Over the course of his career, José María Peiró has published over 350 articles in scientific journals and has been the author of numerous books and monographs of great importance. He has received previous Honorary Degrees (in Spain, Holland, Portugal, Brazil and Peru). A lecturer at the University of Valencia for more than 50 years, in 2008 he founded the Research Institute of Personnel Psychology, Organizational Development, and Quality of Working Life (Idocal), a highly relevant study and research centre.

To further celebrate this award, the international conference “Psychology of Selection and Assessment: Calling, Meaning, Purpose and Sustainable Development”, dedicated to the psychology of selection and assessment, is currently being held in Florence. The event, organized by the Forlilpsi Department of the University of Florence with the support of the International Association of Applied Psychology (Iaap), is curated by Annamaria Di Fabio, with the participation, among other personalities, of José María Peiró, Maureen E. Kenny (Boston College) and Vicente Martinez-Tur (University of Valencia).

The conference hosts, at an Italian level, the important presence of Sergio Salvatore (University of Salento) and Santo Di Nuovo (University of Catania), respectively president and past president of the Italian Association of Psychology (Aip), as well as Maria Paola Monaco , Unifi professor of Labor Law and University delegate for inclusion and diversity, who will host, with the lawyer Gaetano Viciconte and other prominent personalities, a round table (6 November, 5 pm), demonstrating the strong commitment of the University also for the transfer of innovation and public engagement.