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The Forum For Growth.

Professional development, Driven by the practitioner community.

We have a simple mission. To act as a forum where practitioners and applied professionals can explore international knowledge and local best-practice to develop the psychology, well-being, and human performance industry in the region. 

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Approved by the British Psychological Society for the purposes of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). 

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Contributing to the Growth, Skill and Knowledge of Psychology in the GCC and MENA Regions

IPCD was inspired by a grassroots movement amongst the regional psychology community in 2013. We realized that while there is ongoing growth in the number of psychologists working in various sectors within the UAE, yet there were only a few professional development opportunities specifically catering to our field.

The picture was even less clear when looking at psychology practice in our neighboring countries. Something needed to be done to bring the psychology community together, to promote best practice discussions, and to provide high-quality and focused learning opportunities from international experts.

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And the rest is IPCD history!

IPCD Committee

OUR TEAM

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Dr. Alia Al Serkal

Alia has over a decade of experience in applied psychology, working with a variety of organisations in aviation and telecoms.

A firm believer in psychometric testing, she specialises in identifying and developing organisational talent. She has been on the IPCD committee since its inception.

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Dr. Cakil Agnew

Cakil’s research focuses on exploring safety in organizations and the impact of leadership on work performance in high-risk industries. She is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Heriot-Watt University Dubai and the Programme Director for the Independent Distance Learning MSc Business Psychology. After receiving her Ph.D., she worked as a postdoctoral research fellow in the University of Aberdeen’s Industrial Psychology Research Centre before joining Heriot-Watt University.

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Dr. Kirin Hilliar

Kirin’s industry experience has traversed across forensic, clinical and organizational spheres. She is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, and also works part-time as a Psychologist in private practice in Dubai.

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Haya Al Assaf

Haya specialises in the integration of forensic psychology, social cognition, law, and policy. Currently pursuing a PhD at University College London, she also serves as an associate in the risk, forensic, and compliance practice at Ankura Consulting. Haya's expertise spans multiple disciplines, reflecting her dedication to understanding the intricate connections between psychology, society, and the legal system.

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Hind Hamad

This year’s IPCD Marketing mastermind, Hind is a current Heriot-Watt University Dubai  Bsc. Psychology student and the president of the Dubai campus’s Psychology Society, whose aim is to spread awareness and authentic knowledge surrounding psychology via content creation from GetPsyched! podcasts and monthly Blurb magazine issues to Instagram posts and interactive on-campus events. She is aiming for a career in clinical psychology and is interested in the involvement of Islam in psychology and psychological practices.

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Akshita Dewan

Akshita is a psychological therapist accredited by the British Psychological Society. Post attaining her Masters from Queen Mary University of London, she is now working as an Organisation Behavioral Consultant, integrating psychometrics and human behaviour with technology. To further serve her passion to heal and make an impact in society, she also works as a therapist, providing counseling sessions mainly inclusive of her specializations of art therapy and CBT techniques.

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Prices
AED 505 net (single)
AED 566.25 net (double)

Zabeel House By Jumeirah,

The Greens

Prices

AED 600+ (net)

depends on room type & view

Grand Plaza Mövenpick Media City,

Dubai Media City

Prices

AED 658.12 net (single)
AED 719.37 net (double)

Media One Hotel,

Dubai Media City

Prices

AED 694 – 939 (net)

depends on room type & view

Avani+ Palm View Dubai Hotel & Suites, Dubai Media City

Prices
AED 665 (net)

Arjaan by Rotana Dubai,

Dubai Media City

IPCD has coordinated special rates for conference delegates. Please see the list of hotel partners below. To book, please contact the hotel directly, saying that you are a guest of IPCD taking place at Heriot-Watt University on 14-15 October.

Accommodation Options

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Core Details

What are the dates of IPCD 2023? IPCD 2023 will take place over the weekend (Saturday-Sunday) of 14-15 October 2023.

Is IPCD 2023 a hybrid conference, or fully in-person? IPCD 2023 is a fully in-person conference.

What is the theme of IPCD 2023? The conference theme is ‘Psychological Practices in the Digital Age’. Technological advances are impacting the delivery and accessibility of psychologically-informed services. Moreover, as technology gets integrated into more and more parts of our lives, the psychological ramifications of these interactions require more attention and consideration. IPCD 2023 aims to explore all facets of the opportunities and challenges to psychological practices in the modern digital age.

What language(s) is the conference being conducted in? IPCD is a conference conducted in English. We do not provide simultaneous translations in any other languages.

Where is IPCD 2023 taking place? The Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus, in Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai, UAE. You can find the location pin on our website (https://www.psych-me.com/), or access the Google Maps location pin here: https://goo.gl/maps/cw8qH6S7xPAUyVSW6

Is there parking available? Yes. Attendees at IPCD 2023 can park in the Heriot-Watt University Dubai basement parking for free on the weekend of the conference. There are two entry points to the basement parking, accessed here: https://goo.gl/maps/cw8qH6S7xPAUyVSW6 and here: https://goo.gl/maps/AuD3yADwFKp81zKX9 Otherwise, Dubai RTA street parking around the campus is paid on Saturdays, and free on Sundays.

Can I access the venue via public transport? Yes. Heriot-Watt University Dubai in Dubai Knowledge Park is well-serviced by bus services, tram (closest station is Knowledge Village tram station) and metro (closest station is Dubai Internet City metro station). You can access information about Dubai’s public transport options and routes at rta.ae.

Submissions

What do I do if I want to deliver a presentation, panel discussion or workshop at IPCD 2023? The submissions have been closed on 7th July 2023.

Can I email my application to IPCD@hw.ac.uk? The submissions have been closed on 7th July 2023.

What is the deadline for submissions? 7th July 2023

Are all submissions automatically included into the conference agenda? No, acceptance is competitive and assessed by our review committee based on the quality of the submission, the expertise of the speaker(s), and the relevance of your proposed topic to our conference theme. To get a sense of the types of submissions we have accepted in the past, take a look at our Book of Proceedings from past conferences on our Resources page (https://www.psych-me.com/resources).

When will I be notified if my submission is accepted to be included in the conference agenda? 28th July 2023.

If my submission is accepted, does the conference pay for any of my expenses? No, all speakers are responsible for their own UAE entry visas, flights and accommodation (though our hotel partners near campus offer discounted rates for IPCD speakers and delegates). The IPCD committee can provide a letter of support, or letter confirming your acceptance in the conference agenda, if this is required by your organization or for visa purposes.

What benefits do I get as a Speaker? You will get a discounted registration fee to attend the conference (this fee will be outlined to accepted Speakers in August 2023), as well as a certificate of recognition acknowledging you as a Speaker at the conference.

What do I need to do if my submission is accepted? Accepted Speakers will be asked to finalize their registration (and thus confirm their spot in the agenda) by 14th September 2023 (registrations will open in early August). Failure to do so will result in you being removed from the agenda, and your spot will be offered to another speaker. In the weeks leading up to the conference, the IPCD committee will be in touch with all speakers to provide more information, presentation tips, as well as a title slide that all speakers will be asked to use at the start of their presentation / panel / workshop.

Do I need to bring my own laptop for my presentation / panel / workshop? Heriot-Watt University Dubai will be providing laptops, but if you prefer to use your own device, you are welcome to do so.

What materials will be available at the venue? Heriot-Watt University Dubai has all the necessary A/V equipment, as well as white boards, projectors, note pads, pens and internet access.

What if I have special requirements for my presentation / panel / workshop? If you have requirements such as printing, or specific pieces of equipment (e.g., coloured pencils), please let the committee know at IPCD@hw.ac.uk and we will notify you if we can provide these, or if you will need to bring these yourself.

Delegates

When will registrations for conference delegates (attendees) open? In mid-September 2023.

What are the registration fees for delegates? Tickets: Professional Delegates - Sat 14th ticket | 300 Standard (AED) | 250 Early Bird (AED) Professional Delegates - Sun 15th ticket | 300 Standard (AED) | 250 Early Bird (AED) Professional Delegates - Full Weekend Package ticket | 500 Standard (AED) | 450 Early Bird (AED) Student Delegates - Sat 14th ticket | 125 Standard (AED) | 100 Early Bird (AED) Student Delegates - Sun 15th ticket | 125 Standard (AED) | 100 Early Bird (AED) Student Delegates - Full Weekend Package ticket| 200 Standard (AED) | 175 Early Bird (AED) Heriot-Watt Student Delegates - Sat 14th ticket| 5 Standard (AED) | N/A Early Bird (AED) Heriot-Watt Student Delegates - Sun 15th ticket| 5 Standard (AED) | N/A Early Bird (AED) Heriot-Watt Student Delegates - Full Weekend Package ticket | 10 Standard (AED) | N/A Early Bird (AED)

How many Certified Professional Development (CPD) hours will I get? This will depend on what portions of the conference you attend. However, delegates will have the opportunity to earn up to 16 hours of CPD over the course of the weekend.

What organization has accredited the CPD hours? IPCD is accredited to provide CPD hours by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Will I get a certificate of attendance that also lists my CPD hours? Yes. Please allow up to two weeks after the conference (i.e. by 29th October) for this to be emailed to your registered email address.

Does IPCD offer scholarships or other discounts for attendees? IPCD aims to make CPD accessible to those in the region by aiming to keep our registration fees low compared to similar offerings in the region. Thus, registration fees are the same for all delegates – the exception being that IPCD offers discounted registration fees for currently-enrolled students.

Can I access Wi-Fi at the venue? Yes. The Wi-Fi login details will be provided to attendees.

Accommodation

What nearby hotels do you recommend? IPCD 2023 will have accommodation partners with hotels located near the Heriot-Watt University Dubai campus. Details of their discounted rates can be seen listed below: Zabeel House By Jumeirah, The Greens AED 505 net (single) AED 566.25 net (double) Grand Plaza Mövenpick Media City, Dubai Media City AED 600+ (net) depends on room type & view Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City AED 658.12 net (single) AED 719.37 net (double) Avani+ Palm View Dubai Hotel & Suites, Dubai Media City AED 694 – 939 (net) depends on room type & view Arjaan by Rotana Dubai, Dubai Media City AED 665 (net) However, you are also welcome to stay at other hotels across Dubai (or other emirates in the UAE), if you prefer.

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