UNHAS Hosts First Pre-Workshop for the 2026 International Conference on Flourishing Humanity, Advancing Global Research on Human Well-Being
Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) officially launched the first Pre-Workshop in preparation for the 2026 International Conference on Flourishing Humanity, marking the beginning of a three-stage workshop series leading toward the 24th International Conference on Indigenous Psychology. Organized by the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine (FK), Hasanuddin University (UNHAS), the workshop took place on 13–15 November 2025 at LPMPP UNHAS and the Senate Room of the Faculty of Medicine (FK), gathering scholars and academics committed to strengthening scientific understanding and fostering research collaboration ahead of next year’s international forum.
The three-day workshop was led by Prof. Uichol Kim of Inha University, South Korea, a distinguished scholar in cross-cultural psychology and flourishing research. More than 60 academic participants attended, representing institutions such as Bosowa University, Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM), Atma Jaya University, Universitas Surabaya (Ubaya), and Lembaga Administrasi Negara, along with academic representatives from UNHAS including the Department of Psychology as host, the Faculty of Public Health (FKM), and the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP).
The workshop opened with a discussion on the scientific significance of flourishing research, grounded in findings from the Global Flourishing Study, a major international project led by Harvard University. The longitudinal study involved 200,000 participants across 22 countries using nationally representative samples and annual data collection across five waves. It measured indicators such as happiness and life satisfaction, meaning and purpose, mental and physical health, character and virtue, quality of social relationships, and financial and material stability. Remarkably, Indonesia ranked highest among all participating countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China (Hong Kong), Egypt, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland, Turkey, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
These findings highlight a compelling paradox: although Indonesia does not lead in objective socioeconomic factors such as income, social protection, and infrastructure, it consistently demonstrates the highest levels of human flourishing. This raises a powerful scientific inquiry regarding the psychological, cultural, and social mechanisms that enable such flourishing, positioning Indonesia as a critical case in global flourishing research and reinforcing the importance of the workshop as an initial step toward uncovering these dynamics.
Throughout the discussions, Prof. Kim facilitated intensive academic exchange, guiding participants in conceptual and methodological development related to themes of flourishing and well-being, stress and depression, and leadership and work values. These themes were designed to bridge personal, interpersonal, and organizational dimensions of well-being, encouraging research ideas that are both theoretically grounded and contextually relevant.
To support continuity and strengthen preparation toward the 2026 international conference, the organizing committee announced two upcoming workshops: a Data Analysis Workshop in January 2026 focusing on statistical and computational approaches, and a Publication Preparation Workshop in June 2026 to guide participants in producing manuscripts suitable for reputable international journals. The program concluded with a shared commitment among participating institutions to collaborate in building a solid scientific foundation for the International Conference on Flourishing Humanity, scheduled for November 2026. This initiative marks an important milestone in advancing global understanding of flourishing, with Indonesia positioned as a central contributor to the emerging research landscape. Stay tuned and join our next workshop and international conference.