From October 11 to 12, 2024, the Navigation Psychology Professional Committee of China Institute of Navigation (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”) successfully held its 2024 Academic Annual Conference and Theme Forum on Cultivating Adversity Quotient and Crisis Response in Shipping Talent Development at Dalian Maritime University. The annual meeting attracted industry elites, experts, and scholars from the shipping sector across the country and the psychology field of some universities to jointly explore effective methods for enhancing the adversity quotient and coping with psychological crises among shipping talents in the new era.
The opening ceremony and theme forum of the annual conference were held in the library of Dalian Maritime University. Zhang Baochen, Executive Vice President of China Institute of Navigation, delivered a video speech in which he affirmed the efforts and contributions made by the Committee in promoting theoretical research and practical exploration on the mental health of shipping talents. He also elaborated on the significance of the development of navigation psychology for building a strong shipping nation, congratulated on the holding of this academic annual conference, and expressed his expectations for the conference outcomes.
Sun Yuqing, Vice Chairman of China Institute of Navigation (CIN), delivered a speech, outlining the era mission and development direction of the Professional Committee. He emphasized the importance of adversity quotient (AQ) cultivation for the development of shipping talents and expressed his hope that the Professional Committee would seize the opportunity of this annual conference to actively promote research on the mentally healthy development of shipping talents in the new era, to effectively contribute to the comprehensive enhancement of China's soft power in navigation. During the meeting, Sun Yuqing also presented certificates to the representatives of the nine excellent academic papers, winners solicited and selected by the Professional Committee this year.
Zheng Shaonan, Chairman of the Professional Committee, delivered the opening speech. On behalf of the Professional Committee, he welcomed the guests and explained the three considerations on selecting the theme of "Cultivatin of Adversity Quotient and Crisis Response for Shipping Talents" for the annual —based on the need for talent cultivation to build a power in navigation in the new era, the commitment to a people-centered development concept, and the need to inherit and communication traditional Chinese culture. He encouraged all members of the Professional Committee to take the annual, conducting the in-depth research and carrying out sincere collaborations , to offer more effective strategies for the development of nautical psychology and the mental health of shipping talents.
Zhao Baogang, Vice President of Dalian Maritime University, delivered a themed report on "Exploration and Practice of Adversity Quotient Cultivation for Students in Dalian Maritime University." The report covered the proposition of the concept of adversity quotient cultivation for college students, the theoretical research and exploration of the university's adversity quotient cultivation program, and the outlook for future work. He stated that the university would thoroughly implement a psychological education system of 12345 centered on adversity quotient cultivation, focusing on nurturing new-era talents who are "actively determined, resilient, daring to strive, and willing to take responsibilities."
During the keynote speech session, three renowned domestic psychological experts shared their insights, providing valuable theoretical perspectives and practical guidance for adversity quotient cultivation and psychological crisis intervention for the shipping talents. Among them, Professor Ma Xiting, Director of the Positive Psychological Experience Center at Beihang University (Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics), presented a speech entitled "Thoughts and Exploration on Cultivating Positive Psychological Qualities Among College Students," discussing the pathways of cultivating positive psychological qualities within the talent cultivation system. Professor Zhang Jingyuan, Director of the Mental Health Education Center at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, delivered a speech on the theme of "Enhancing Psychological Resilience to Face Life's Storms with a Smile," exploring the importance of psychological resilience and methods for its cultivation.
Associate Professor Zhuang Mingke, Deputy Director of the Mental Health Education and Counseling Center at Peking University, presented a lecture themed "Psychological Crisis Intervention from the Perspective of Solution-Focused Theory and Perspectives," introducing the solution-focused theory and coping strategies in psychological crisis situations.
Captain Song Kun, first Chinese woman to sail around the world alone, shared her psychological adjustment process in facing of challenges, demonstrating the positive spirit of a navigator.
Professor Bao Junzhong of Dalian Maritime University, discussed how to integrate adversity quotient cultivation into the education of navigation major students from the perspective of the systematic theory to establish a comprehensive supporting system for their development growth.
During the panel discussion of " Voyage of the Minds - Seafarers' Mental Health and Maintenance," Yan Jingyi, Director of the Students’ Psychological Development Service Center of Dalian Maritime University, engaged in a dialogue with Xu Junting, Director of the Psychiatry Department at Dalian Seventh People's Hospital, Captain Zhou Yinghui, Deputy General Manager of Dalian Huayang Maritime Co., Ltd., and Captain Fang Qitao, Deputy General Manager of Qingdao Weili International Shipping Management Co., Ltd, during which they explored the effective strategies in response to the seafarers' psychological crises.
The next morning, the delegates visited the Navigation Education Museum and the Students’ Psychological Development Service Center of Dalian Maritime University, and participated in the two workshops on the topic of adversity quotient .
At the workshop titled Ancient Methods to Awaken Physical and Mental Resilience, Professor Zhang Song from Dalian Maritime University guided participants in experiencing sailor-style acupressure exercises, hand-clapping exercises, stretching techniques on mats, and breathing meditation. In the workshop Exploring the Adversity Quotient Spirit in Ancient Chinese Poetry, Professor Wang Youquan from the same university led everyone in experiencing the impact of writing on one's mood. Representatives actively participated, learning how to stay calm under pressure and awaken their inner resilience.
The successful hosting of this annual conference has established an academic exchange platform between the shipping industry and psychology, broadening new ideas for the integrated development of interdisciplinary studies. In the future, the Professional Committee will further enhance cross-unit, cross-industry, and cross-disciplinary exchanges and interactions to contribute more to the development of nautical psychology.