Global Character Alliance Newsletter
February 2026
Conferences and Events
Latin American Congress on Character Education 2026
The Latin American Congress on Character Education 2026 will take place on April 18 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, bringing together policymakers, educators, academics, and international experts to engage in high-level dialogue on character education, human flourishing, and public policy. Organized by the Varkey Foundation and Dandelion – Center for Character and Leadership Education, the Congress will showcase regional policy initiatives and research aimed at integrating character education across educational systems. Register to participate.
2026 KNN Conference Call for Submissions Now Open
The Kern National Network has opened the Call for Submissions for its 2026 KNN Conference, taking place September 30–October 2 in Pasadena, California. Oral and poster proposals are invited that showcase research, innovations, and practice models advancing flourishing in health through the KNN Framework for Flourishing—character, caring, and practical wisdom. Submissions will be accepted through March 27.
March & April: GGSC Greater Good Educators Community of Practice
Join the Greater Good Science Center and educators around the world to explore science-based practices for Kindness-Compassion (March) and/or Awe (April) in schools and classrooms.
VEC Organises "Character Week": From Gratitude to Moral Flourishing
The Virtue and Values Education Centre at UFV is organizing the Character Week from 9 to 13 March, dedicated to reflection on character and integral formation. An exhibition on literature and virtues will take place in the Central Building. The programme includes the talk ‘What If the Brain Needs to Give Thanks?’, the event ‘Why Not Be a Bastard?’, and the international conference ‘Educating for Moral Flourishing’.
Which Character for Human Growth? Foundations, Challenges, and Reconstruction
The Centre for Character and Human Growth, based at Villanueva University (Madrid), is pleased to announce the following workshop: Which Character for Human Growth? Foundations, Challenges, and Reconstruction Which Character for Human Growth? Foundations, Challenges, and Reconstruction is an academic workshop comprising three seminars devoted to the study of moral character. Through a sequence of threeinterconnected sessions, the workshop explores the conceptual foundations of character and virtue, the contemporary challenges they face, and the prospects for reconstructing a meaningful account of moral character that remains normatively compelling, psychologically realistic, and educationally relevant. The workshop and its threefold seminar structure draw upon the work and contributions to contemporary character research of Christian Miller, A. C. Reid Professor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University, who will lead the seminars. The workshop will take place on Monday, March 9, and Tuesday, March 10 at Villanueva University (Madrid). The seminars may be attended in person or online (live streaming). In the case of online attendance, a link will be provided upon registration. Below you will find the seminar topics and their international schedules: Seminar 1. Monday, March 9 | 11:15 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. What Is Character, Really? Re-examining the Conceptual Foundations of Character and Virtue Seminar 2. Monday, March 9 | 3:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Character under Pressure: From Current Foundational and Empirical Challenges to Reconstructive Responses • Madrid (GMT +1): 3:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Seminar 3. Tuesday, March 10 | 11:15 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. Developing Moral Character: Formative Traditions and Strategies for Moral Growth • Madrid (GMT +1): 11:15 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. Required and suggested readings will be provided to help participants prepare for the seminars. Access to the readings will be granted upon registration. Place: Auditorium. Villanueva University For any questions, please contact: vianney.domingo@villanueva.edu |
ECVA Character Conference 2026 in Trnava, Slovakia
ECVA Character Conference 2026 in Trnava, Slovakia “Bridging the Knowledge – Action Gap in Character Development” Established in 2022, the European Character and Virtue Association offers a forum for promoting research, training and networking in the field of character education. We bring together educational institutions in Europe and scholars from around the world, providing unrivalled opportunities for members to share best practices and shape European policies affecting higher education and research. The 2026 conference of ECVA will take place in Trnava University, Slovakia, in cooperation with the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham, the Private University College of Teacher Education of Christian Churches, and the Virtues and Values Education Center of Francisco de Vitoria University. The Executive Board of the European Character and Virtue Association (ECVA) cordially invites you to attend the 2026 ECVA Conference in Trnava, Slovakia. President: Prof. Dr. James Arthur (Harvard University) Trnava, Slovakia, 2026, 24th to 26th of June We expect more than: Conference description Bridging the Knowledge – Action Gap in Character Development Moral education often assumes that ethical knowledge or cognitive competence alone will result in moral behaviour. Yet lived experience, philosophical reflection, and empirical research consistently show otherwise. A persistent gap exists between what individuals know is right and what they actually do—a phenomenon recognized since antiquity. Aristotle observed that “we reason here not to know what virtue is, but to become good” (Nicomachean Ethics, 1103b), highlighting that moral reasoning is directed toward formation, not just information. Immanuel Kant similarly acknowledged that a person may clearly understand moral duty and yet lack the will to act accordingly, pointing to the human struggle between reason and inclination. David Hume went further, arguing that “reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions,” insisting that moral knowledge without rightly ordered desires lacks the power to move us to action. And Martin Buber wittily adds: “The worst notorious liar in the classroom will write a brilliant treatise on the destructive power of falsehood”. This enduring challenge – now referred to as the knowledge–action gap – remains a pressing concern across education, psychology, and the social sciences. Scholars have described related phenomena in various conceptualizations, such as the reason–action gap, attitude–behaviour gap, intention–behaviour gap, or the knowledge–attitudes–practice (KAP) gap. Each term reflects a common concern: knowing what is right does not reliably lead to doing what is right. Bridging this divide is a complex task, compounded by the dynamic, deeply personal, and context-sensitive nature of character formation. Educational and behavioural sciences are increasingly turning to integrative approaches that go beyond cognitive instruction. Interventions such as moral sensitization, dramatization, habit training, and reflective practice are being explored to enhance the coherence between values and actions. There is growing consensus that this so-called “gappiness problem” cannot be resolved through one-size-fits-all solutions (e.g., moral emotions alone or identity-based interventions). Instead, promising “multi-component” models are emerging that draw on diverse disciplines and methodologies to address the challenge. Conference Goals By bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives and diverse methodologies, the ECVA 2026 conference aims to deepen our understanding of the knowledge–action gap and to promote innovative, research-informed strategies for strengthening moral coherence and character development in real-world settings. We look forward to welcoming those committed to advancing theory-informed practice and practice-informed theory in the service of ethical integrity and flourishing lives. |
100+ researchers
40+ universities
20+ countries
60+ presentations & keynote addresses
Association for Character Education Northern Conference
The Association for Character Education is excited to announce their Northern Conference, which will bring together schools and organisations from across the country to share best practice, celebrate achievement, and explore new approaches to character education. This is a members only event and takes place on 24th June 2026 at Quebec Street, Leeds, LS1 2HA.
Association for Character Education Southern Conference
The Association for Character Education is excited to announce their Southern Conference, which will bring together schools and organisations from across the country to share best practice, celebrate achievement, and explore new approaches to character education. This is a members only event and takes place on 8th July 2026 at 100 Longwater Avenue, Green Park, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 6GP.
The Flourishing Network Summit, Harvard University
The Flourishing Network Summit Dates: Wednesday 18 – Thursday 19 March 2026 The Summit brings together members of The Flourishing Network to inspire, connect, and collaborate. Hosted by Harvard University’s Institute of Quantitative Social Sciences, the Summit is guided by core principles: Ecosystem-wide flourishing Love as central to flourishing for individuals, organizations, and societies Character as foundational to flourishing Draft Schedule – Wednesday, March 18th 09:30 – Coffee 10:00 – Welcome & Group Connection Activity 10:30 – Opening Keynotes: Prof. Tyler Vanderweele & Prof. Matthew Lee 12:00 – Lunch 13:00 – Concurrent Session 1: Interest Group-led sessions 15:15 – Wrap-up: reflections from Interest Group chairs & partner organizations 15:45 – Gratitude & Recognition 16:15 – Happy Hour & Tea 17:00 – Free time for self-organized collaboration Draft Schedule – Thursday, March 19th 09:30 – Coffee 10:00 – Mindfulness & Recognition Moment 10:15 – Opening Welcome 11:00 – Track Session 1: Interest Group-led sessions 12:00 – Lunch 13:00 – Track Session 2: Interest Group-led sessions 15:15 – Gratitude, Recognition, Commitments Sharing & Takeaways 16:15 – Final Celebration (Happy Hour & Tea) 17:00 – Free time for collaboration or departures Sponsors & Supporters: Barry-Wehmiller (Generous Sponsor) The Bridge at Wellington College (Support) |
Publications and Resources
Call for Papers for New Journal:
The Annual Review of Virtue and the Professions
Virtues & Vocations at the University of Notre Dame has launched The Annual Review of Virtue and the Professions – an international, refereed, open-access journal that focuses on cutting-edge interdisciplinary scholarship on integrating character into professional and preprofessional education. The journal is keenly interested in research that cuts across disciplines and that queries the role of character in the professions. The call for the first issue and submission guidelines are now available.
KNN Publishes Article on Bridging Across Differences Toward Flourishing
KNN team members have published “Bridging across differences toward flourishing in the profession of medicine” in the open-access journal Social Sciences & Humanities Open. The article presents bridging as a facilitative process for engagement across differences and shows how KNN Framework elements of character, caring, and practical wisdom are foundational. It expands on a prior scholarly perspective piece and highlights early insights from demonstration projects at eight U.S. medical schools.
SCCCE Launches Inaugural Insight Series with Inaugural Issue on CCE in an AI-Mediated World
As part of its ongoing work to deepen thinking and practice in Character and Citizenship Education (CCE), the Singapore Centre for Character and Citizenship Education (SCCCE) launched the SCCCE Insight Series on 28 Jan through the session “More than Artificial Intelligence Ready: Educating for Humanity”, jointly organised with the Teachers-as-Thinkers Series. The launch session brought together over 600 participants, reflecting strong interest in how education can respond meaningfully to the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI). The SCCCE Insight Series is a new publication platform that features accessible thought pieces, research syntheses, and practitioner reflections on emerging issues in CCE, with the aim of sparking meaningful dialogue across the education community. During the panel discussion, contributors explored how educators can move beyond technical readiness for AI towards cultivating human capacities such as judgement, discernment, and ethical reasoning. Panellists highlighted the importance of developing students’ digital wisdom through intentional character and learning processes, grounded in strong relationships and supportive school and community ecosystems. The discussion also underscored the need for values-driven approaches to AI education, where educators thoughtfully leverage AI’s potential while attending to its risks, so that teaching and learning remain anchored in humanity, ethics, and purpose. |
Principled Innovation launches free online course
Principled Innovation Community are excited to share a new free online course: ‘What the Founders Meant by Happiness’. This course was created in partnership with Arizona State University and the National Constitution Center and is based on Jeffrey Rosen’s book The Pursuit of Happiness. What does it mean to live a virtuous life in a free society? This course invites learners to explore happiness not as the personal pursuit of feeling good but as an idea closely tied to character, civic responsibility, leadership, and participation in a constitutional democracy. At this heart of this is the belief that self-government begins with the government of the self. What does it mean to live a virtuous life in a free society? This course invites learners to explore happiness not as the personal pursuit of feeling good but as an idea closely tied to character, civic responsibility, leadership, and participation in a constitutional democracy. At this heart of this is the belief that self-government begins with the government of the self. Through letters, speeches, essays, and stories from the founding era, learners see how key figures in American history understood happiness as the cultivation of virtue and self-mastery, and how they wrestled– often imperfectly– with questions of moral judgment in both public and private life. By engaging with these historical examples, learners consider how ideas about character, leadership, moral responsibility, and civic duty shaped the American experiment in self-government and continue to resonate in our civic life today. |
Other News
Character.org Powered by CharacterPlus
CharacterPlus is proud to take on the stewardship of Character.org, uniting two legacy leaders in character education to expand our national impact. Together, we will strengthen research-based practices, elevate educator voice, and ensure schools and communities have the tools to cultivate ethical, compassionate, and responsible young people. This transition reflects our shared mission and bold commitment to the future of character development nationwide for generations.
Character Education Program for Government Teams from five countries
The Varkey Foundation completed its 2025 Character Education Program for Government Teams, engaging 150 ministry officials from Bogotá, El Salvador, Mendoza, Michoacán and Paraná. Through virtual and in-person learning, teams strengthened their capacity to integrate character education into decision-making and policy design. Selected through a competitive regional process, they now face the challenge of developing public policies that embed character education and foster virtuous educational leadership across the region.
Application Portal Open for 2026 Educating Character Initiative Capacity-Building Grants
| The Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University is pleased to announce that the application portal is now open for 2026 Educating Character Initiative Capacity-Building Grants! Please submit your application by March 20 at 5:00 p.m. ET. You can find all the details and application instructions on our 2026 RFP page. As a reminder, this year’s Educating Character Initiative grants will support U.S. colleges and universities dedicated to fostering the moral, civic, and intellectual character of their communities. These grants are designed to give your institution the time, resources, and flexibility to shape character education in ways that reflect your unique mission and context. Capacity-Building Grants are for U.S. colleges and universities new to character education or with smaller projects, offering up to $50,000 to build institutional support and overcome resource challenges. |
Applications Open for the (Online) Master of Arts in Character Education. Scholarship Available for USA-Based Applicants.
“Applications Open for the (Online) MA Character Education and Scholarship Opportunity for USA-Based Applicants
The Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues delivers a Master of Arts (MA) in Character Education. The MA programme is a part-time degree that is taught online (via distance learning) over 3 years, giving students the flexibility to complete the programme alongside full-time employment. The Master’s programme is applicable to those wishing to make positive and meaningful change within their organisation, and is relevant to those working in a variety of fields, including K-12 education, higher education, and professional education.
Teaching for the next cohort (2025/26) commences on 28th September 2026, and applications are now open.
Scholarship Opportunity for USA-Based Applicants:
The Jubilee Centre offer a full tuition fee scholarship for USA-based candidates which is supported by the Kern Family Foundation. The Scholarship is known as The Kern Award Scholarship.
To be eligible for the Kern Award Scholarship, applicants must:
• Be a U.S.A citizen or permanent U.S.A resident
• Live and work in the U.S.A
Please note that the application deadline for those wishing to apply for the Kern Award is 31st May 2026.
Further information about The Kern Award, and how to apply, can be found here.
Further Information About the MA Character Education:
MA Character Education Programme Director, Dr Paul Watts, is running an information session about the programme on March 18th. Details about the session can be found below:
Session Title: MA Character Education (Online) Information Session for Prospective Applicants to the University of Birmingham
Date and Time: Mar 18, 2026. 4pm GMT (UK)
Description: This is a 45min information session about the MA Character Education programme (Online) for prospective applicants. Programme Director – Dr Paul Watts – will provide an overview of teaching and learning on the program and scholarship opportunities. Paul will also be available to take questions from attendees. The session will be recorded, and the recording will be sent to those who register.
Registration: https://bham-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/mN1jTzu4RTySTR9skQ_8dQ
If you have any questions about the programme prior to, or after, the session, please do let Paul Watts (p.m.watts@bham.ac.uk) know.”
CMFV Becomes First in Spain to Receive Character Quality Mark
UFV Colegio Mayor receives the “Organisation of Character Quality Mark” with the support of VEC
The Virtue and Values Education Centre (VEC) has supported the Colegio Mayor Francisco de Vitoria in obtaining the prestigious “Organisation of Character Quality Mark”, a quality seal awarded by the Association for Character Education (ACE).
This recognition certifies the quality of the work carried out by the Colegio Mayor in the field of character education and the integral formation of students. The process included a review of its educational programmes, institutional culture and educational practices aimed at the development of virtues and values.
Throughout this journey, the Virtue and Values Education Centre (VEC) played a significant role by providing guidance and specialised training during all phases of the process.
The certification was presented at a ceremony on the 10th of February, attended by members of the university community, directors of other halls of residence in Madrid and student residents. The seal was awarded by Gary Lewis, Director of the Association for Character Education, who highlighted the Colegio Mayor’scommitment to character education.
With this recognition, the Colegio Mayor Francisco de Vitoria becomes the first organisation in Spain to receive this distinction and the first hall of residence in the world to achieve it, thereby joining the group of institutions that hold this international standard in character education.
"What measure should we use?"
The Educating Character Initiative Research Team often gets questions like the above from educators leading character-related projects. Typically, our answer is something like: “Let’s get together sometime to discuss your project, how far along it is, and what you hope it will accomplish.” This is because, before discussing assessment tools, we first need to answer a deeper question: “What kind(s) of evidence could tell us whether the institution or program is having the intended effect on students?”
Centre awarded a grant to support mentoring-based project on Cultivating Virtues for Leadership
“The Centre for Character and Leadership was awarded the Strategic Initiative Development (SID) grant by the Association for Moral Education.
The grant is meant to support a research dissemination workshop for school leaders as moral leaders and policy makers on Cultivating Virtues for Leadership (CViL). The CViL program was piloted in Kenya for a period of three years involving school Principals and teachers from 31 Secondary Schools located in 16 Counties across the country.
Also, SID grant will support in organizing and hosting Coaching and Mentorship Speaker Series that are geared towards empowerment of school leaders on Servant leadership, Character Education and human flourishing.
The Coaching and Mentorship Speaker Series will be facilitated in collaboration with various local education stakeholders, CViL developers from the Center for Character and Citizenship, University of Missouri -St. Louis, and education researchers from the Centre for Research in International and Comparative Education.”