APA International Learning Partner Program

Past Programs

• Cuba 2012: A group of 16 psychologists travelled to Cuba with program leader Carol Goodheart, EdD, to explore models of psychology education and training, and mental health systems in Cuba. The program report (PDF, 687KB) includes a summary of each meeting, personal/cultural highlights of the visit, outcomes and next steps. This program was eligible for CE credit.

As part of its mission "to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives," the American Psychological Association (APA) encourages and facilitates opportunities for psychologists to share professional perspectives and learn from each other; enhance psychological research, education and practice; and further the development of the discipline.

In partnership with the organization Professionals Abroad, APA is developing opportunities for exchange and collaboration among psychologists across national boundaries.

Statement of Intent

• APA's goal is to offer a unique professional experience that enriches psychology and the participants.

• The programs developed by APA and Professionals Abroad foster individual-to-individual exchange. Participants are individuals who want to exchange information with colleagues internationally. The programs are not government-sponsored events and are not official APA delegations.

• The purpose of the program is professional, scientific and educational exchange; U.S. participants do not speak for the U.S. government, nor do they comment on the governmental policies of other countries' governments.

• The program leader is appointed by APA. This leader may be delegated by APA to speak on its behalf in interactions with psychology organizations in the host country.

• All U.S. participants who choose to attend a program are asked to agree in advance to this intention.

Structure of the Program

The general structure of the APA International Learning Partners Program is designed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, perspectives and experiences across borders, and for APA member participants to learn about psychology in other countries. Choice of program host countries will be made by the APA Central Office, with advice and input from APA's Committee on International Relations in Psychology and consultation with colleagues in the potential host-partner country. Criteria for potential host-partner country selection will include the following:

• The program will offer a unique opportunity for U.S. psychologists to engage with psychology colleagues in venues that have not been broadly accessible for geographical or historical reasons.

• The host-partner country is one for which the national psychology association has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with APA to promote exchange and collaboration (currently these include Australia, China, Colombia, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, Spain and United Kingdom; talks underway with Israel, Portugal and Lebanon), or where there is good contact with associations of psychology.

Programs will be eligible for Continuing Education credits (after review by the APA Office of Continuing Education in Psychology), and each program will include evaluation activities for program assessment and improvement.

Each program will be tailored to meet the needs and expectations of its participants and the host-partner country to the extent possible. The program will be developed to address these interests and will also include a 'mini-conference' day in which APA members and psychologists from the host-partner country can present and discuss their work.

Although the primary purpose of the programs is professional, cultural activities will also be included during the visit. Cultural experiences offer important learning and give broader context to the professional exchanges.

Some programs may also offer the opportunity for psychologist participants to invite a (paid) accompanying person. These persons will be welcome to attend both the professional and the cultural events.