Wednesday 22 July 09:50 - 11:20

Hall: 03 - Volta

Chair and Discussant: Fonzo Concetta

Division: Division 1: Work and Organizational Psychology

TOPIC: Transdisciplinary Approaches: Collaborate across areas of psychology and disciplines to address complex global challenges
In the context of accelerating and interconnected global challenges, often conceptualised as a "polycrisis", applied psychology is called to develop new transdisciplinary approaches capable of addressing complexity while promoting inclusion, trust and sustainable development. This symposium responds to this call by integrating organisational, educational, policy and behavioural perspectives to explore how skills, agency and trust can act as key levers for social inclusion. Adopting a multi-level framework, the contributions offer complementary insights. At the organisational level, one paper examines the psychological foundations of systems change in the non-profit sector, highlighting hope, agency and relational trust as critical resources enabling collective action and long-term transformation. At the intersection of psychology and social policy, a second contribution investigates alternative credentials as innovative tools for recognising skills beyond formal education, discussing their implications for equity and life-course opportunities among disadvantaged groups. Expanding the analysis to global and societal challenges, a third contribution applies a polycrisis lens to forced displacement, exploring how educational systems and transnational initiatives can foster inclusion, recognition of prior learning and multicultural integration, particularly across Europe and Africa. At the meso level of vocational education and training, another study presents the development and validation of a soft skills self-assessment tool, addressing the role of interpersonal competences in building trust, collaboration and quality assurance processes. Finally, an interdisciplinary contribution examines how environmental narratives shape consumer behaviour, demonstrating how psychological and cultural factors influence decision-making in sustainability transitions. By bridging theory, empirical research and practice across diverse domains, the symposium advances an innovative and transdisciplinary understanding of applied psychology's role in responding to polycrisis. It highlights how fostering skills, trust and agency can support more inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies.