About the 43rd Annual Conference of the International School Psychology Association

From stress to trauma… and all the way back!

ISPA Conference – 2022 – Leuven, Belgium

The International School Psychology Association (ISPA) Conference will be held in Leuven, Belgium this year! The 43^rd ISPA Conference will take place Thursday 7 July– Sunday 10 July 2022. 

The theme of the conference is ‘From stress to trauma… And all the way back!’. We look forward to an inspiring scientific program with invited keynotes by internationally distinguished scholars, symposia and workshops, roundtables, and thematic sessions that address the theme of the conference.

The 43^rd ISPA Conference can only be attended on-site/in-person.

Conference location:
KU Leuven – Faculty of Social Sciences
Parkstraat 45 box 3600
3000 Leuven

Local Organizing Committee 

Prof. Dr. Karine Verschueren, professor school psychology, KU Leuven
Drs. Patrick Lancksweerdt, chair VVSP, Vlaamse Vereniging voor Schoolpsychologie
Drs. Davy Blekman, director RINO amsterdam & ZonderZorg
Drs. Marieke van Dam, past – RINO amsterdam director, now self-employed

Sustainability
We, the members of the Local Organizing Committee, are fully committed to sustainability, and have therefore made some choices which will have an impact on several aspects of the conference.
This means that there will be no printed program book. All information about the programs and the social activities will be provided via the conference app and on large posters in the reception area. We will continuously update all information throughout the conference and will be able to communicate any changes or additions to the program immediately. Furthermore, we use a minimum of plastic, so no plastic bags either.
We have also chosen to offer exclusively vegetarian food and will work as much as possible with local providers. For drinks and food, we use reusable materials. Free water will be available, we will provide a reusable bottle, 1 per person.
We do hope that you support our choices and are looking forward to the conference as much as we are!

COVID-19 Safety Measures 

In order for the ISPA 2022 conference te be a success we would like to share some information on COVID measures in Belgium. Please note that the set-up of all events and sessions will be in line with the COVID-19 measures in force by the Belgian government at the time of the meeting. The current regulations imposed are:

Travel

COVID-19 travel restrictions have been lifted in Belgium. Travellers are not required to provide proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID-19 or a negative test. Exceptions remain when entering from high-risk countries or areas (no such countries or areas are currently listed).

High-risk countries and areas: Travellers entering from high-risk countries and areas are required to provide proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID-19, or testing, and complete the Passenger Locator Form.

All participants should adhere to the governmentally issued travel restrictions and guidance issued by the Belgian authorities and the region you are travelling from.

• For all latest GENERAL INFORMATION concerning COVID-19 in Belgium, please check: https://www.info-coronavirus.be/en/.
• Participants travelling to Brussels from EU COUNTRIES: for information on the various measures in place, including quarantine and testing requirements (in various languages), please check: https://reopen.europa.eu/en/.
• Participants travelling from OUTSIDE OF THE EU: for information regarding travel requirements (e.g. COVID-19 vaccination approval & testing) and visa application, please contact the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country.

General COVID-19 measures

In Belgium, the coronavirus barometer has been lifted since 16 May 2022. As a result, there are no more restrictions.
Nevertheless, we advice you to still keep in mind the following hygiene measures:

• Wash your hands frequently
• Stay home if you are feeling sick
• Use a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand and turn away from other people
• Face masks are no longer mandatory in public spaces and public transport, only in hospitals, doctor’s offices and pharmacies
• If you are medically vulnerable, please wear a face mask

Responsibility of our attendees

In order to organise a safe meeting, both organizers and participants need to assume a joint responsibility to follow the hygiene measures.

COVID-19 PCR test in Belgium

If you need to take a COVID-19 PCR test in Belgium, please find werewith an overview of the test centres:

PCR-travel or -event testing without CTPC testing in private test centres

• Brussels (Brussels Midi railwaystation a.o.): 41 euro
• Brussels Airport: 67 euro

PCR-travel or -event testing in public test centres with CTPC (Covid Test Prescription Code): 50 euro

• Step 1: create your CTPC. This can only be done by yourself. Your GP or the test centre can’t assist you on this.
  • non residents or those without electronic access to their online personal health platform
• Step 2: book your online appointment
  • Mark that you have a CTPC, that you request a travel or event test appointment and that you don’t have symptoms
  • Select a test centre near the conference venue (Heilig Hart Hospital Leuven, Naamsestraat 105, 3000 Leuven), give your CTPC and book your appointment
• Step 3: get tested
• Step 4: receive your test result
  • in your online personal health platform under “mijn testresultaten*”
  • via your CTPC and 4 last digits of your mobile number
  • in your EU COVID Health Certificate

REGISTRATION FEES

ABSTRACTS

Sponsorship

Interested in doing a sponsorship? We offer a wide variety of opportunities and possibilities. Download our fact sheet for more information. If you would like to come in contact with the Organizing committee, please contact us at events@zonderzorg.nl.

About ISPA

In the early 1970s a group of school psychologists from different parts of the world, under the leadership of the late Calvin D. Catterall, came together to form an International School Psychology Committee in order to promote worldwide cooperation amongst school and educational psychologists.

The number of psychologists committed to this aim grew steadily until in 1982 the International School Psychology Association was founded with Anders Poulsen as its first President. Since that time, membership of ISPA has spread to all corners of the earth and the Association has become recognized by the United Nations as an important Non-Governmental Organization speaking on behalf of children and young people and their families.

The major aims of this Association are to:

1. Promote the use of sound psychological principles within the context of education all over the world;
2. Promote communication between professionals who are committed to the improvement of the mental health of children in the world’s schools;
3. Encourage the use of School Psychologists in countries where they are not currently being used;
4. Promote the psychological rights of all children all over the world;
5. Initiate and promote cooperation with other organizations working for purposes similar to those of ISPA in order to help children and families.

The ISPA constitution also condemns any discrimination of racial, religious, sexual nature and recommends its members to conduct their professional life in conformity with this non-discriminatory principle.