Honorary Doctorate degree for José María Peiró

The University of Florence today awarded an honorary Master's degree Life Cycle and Contextual Psychology to José María Peiró, Emeritus Professor of Social and Organizational Psychology at the University of Valencia and former President of the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), the oldest and most prestigious organization in the field, founded in 1920.

At the beginning of the ceremony, a minute of silence was observed to remember the victims of the recent flood in Valencia.

The title—granted for Peiró’s "exceptional contribution to applied psychology and the psychology of work and organizations"—was presented by the University’s Rector, Alessandra Petrucci, during a ceremony held this morning in the Rectorate’s Great Hall. 

"Peiró's research," stated Rector Petrucci in her speech," aims to clarify the complex relationship between workplace well-being and fulfilment, and the effective performance and productivity of employees in companies and organizations. I am delighted that Professor José María Peiró is receiving this recognition for his exploration of these themes, which are highly valued by our University."

Following an introduction by Vanna Boffo, Director of the Department of Education, Languages, Intercultural Studies, Literatures, and Psychology (Forlilpsi), the laudation of Peiró was delivered by Annamaria Di Fabio, Professor of Work and Organizational Psychology at the University of Florence. Also present was Caterina Primi, President of the School of Psychology. 

José María Peiró then delivered a keynote lecture titled "Applied Psychology in the 21st Century: Challenges and opportunities".

Born in Torrent (Valencia) in 1950, José María Peiró has addressed topics such as workplace stress, organizational climate and culture, the proactive cultivation of well-being, and sustainability. 

The honorary degree motivation highlights that he "promoted cross-cultural collaboration, advancing applied psychology on a global scale and innovating postgraduate studies in the discipline," demonstrating both rigour and passion for research and intervention in real-world contexts. 

For nearly 20 years, he has actively collaborated with the University of Florence on initiatives related to Healthy Organizations, Decent Work, and Sustainable Development, promoting good practices grounded in empirical research for technological transfer. He has been instrumental in developing numerous scientific associations, including the European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology (EAWOP), and expanding the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), which he led as President.

During his illustrious career, José María Peiró has published over 350 articles in scientific journals and authored numerous influential books and monographs. He has received prior honorary doctorates in Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil, and Peru. A professor at the University of Valencia for over 50 years, he founded the Research Institute of Personnel Psychology, Organizational Development, and Quality of Working Life (IDOCAL) in 2008, a highly regarded centre for studies and research in these fields.