Professor Tom Harrison

Tom Harrison is a Professor of Education and the Director of the Jubilee Centre and Character and Virtues as well as Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) at the University of Birmingham.  He joined the Centre when it was founded in 2012 and previously held the roles of Director of Education and Deputy Director. Tom was also the Programme Director for the MA in Character Education from its launch in 2016 to 2023.

Tom is an HEA Principal Fellow and National Teaching Fellow. He is a Secretary and Trustee for the Society for Educational Studies (SES) and Trustee for the Association for Character Education (ACE).

Tom’s specialist interests include character education, cyber-wisdom and the Internet, and character education and higher education. Tom researches, publishes, and gives presentations in the UK and Internationally in these areas as well as developing resources and training programmes for schools, voluntary sector, and other organisations.  Tom has been the Principal Investigator on research projects funded by the John Templeton Foundation, Nuffield Foundation, Department of Education, Templeton World Charity Foundation, and Kern Family Foundation amongst others. He has also acted as an advisor to the Department of Education and Cabinet Office, as well as several large charities and educational organisations working in the field of character education.

Tom’s most recent book is THRIVE: How to Cultivate Character so Your Children Can Flourish Online and won the IFFD International Family Award in 2021. Tom is regularly invited to give presentations on topics related to character education to academic, educational, voluntary sector, and policy audiences. 

Contact details
  • Telephone: +44 (0)121 414 4812
  • Emailt.j.harrison@bham.ac.uk
  • Location: Room 1243, 12th Floor (West) Muirhead Tower, University of Birmingham
Qualifications
  • PhD, School of Education, University of Birmingham
  • PGCert in Academic Practice, University of Birmingham
  • BA, Sociology, University of York
Publications

Books

Articles

Chapters

  • Brooks , E & Harrison, T 2023, Character Development in Higher Education. in MD Matthews & RM Lerner (eds), The Routledge International Handbook of Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Character Development, Volume I: Conceptualizing and Defining Character. 1st edn, Routledge International Handbooks, Routledge, pp. 174-186
  • Harrison, T & Polizzi, F 2023, Cyber-wisdom education: Integrating moral theory to tackle online harms. in ANM Leung, KKS Chan, CSM Ng & JC-K Lee (eds), Cyberbullying and Values Education: Implications for Family and School Education. 1st edn, Routledge Series on Life and Values Education, Routledge, pp. 142-155
  • Arthur, J & Harrison, T 2022, Service-Learning, character education and spiritualy in a Catholic University. in MB Isola & L Gherlone (eds), Spirituality and Higher Education: Perspectives from Service-Learning . 1st adapted edn, UNISERVITATE Collection, vol. 3, CLAYSS, pp. 135-153.
  • Carr, D and Harrison, T (2018) Teaching Gratitude Through Literature. In Tudge, J. Freitas, L., Developing Gratitude in Children and Adolescents. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.  
  • Harrison, T (2012) Assessment of Citizenship Education: Challenges and Opportunities in Arthur, J. and Cremin, H. (eds) Debates in Citizenship Education, London: Routledge.
  • Harrison, T. (2010) A Curriculum full of Character; Developing Character Education in the classroom, culture and community of a school in Arthur, J (eds) Citizens of Character, Exeter: Imprint Academic.

Research Reports

  • Harrison, T, Dineen, K., Moller, F. (2018) Parent Teacher Partnerships: barriers and enablers to collaborative character education. Birmingham. University of Birmingham. 
  • Harrison, T. and Khatoon, B. (2017) Virtue, Practical Wisdom and Professional Education: A Pilot Intervention Designed to Enhance Virtue Knowledge, Understanding and Reasoning in Student Lawyers, Doctors and Teachers, University of Birmingham: Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues.
  • Arthur, J., Harrison, T., Burn, E. and Moller, F. (2017) Schools of Virtue: What Works in Character Education, University of Birmingham: Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues.
  • Arthur, J., Harrison, T., Taylor-Collins, E. and Moller, F. (2017) A Habit of Service: The Factors that Sustain Service in Young People, University of Birmingham: Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues.
  • Arthur, J., Harrison, T. et al (2014) My Character:  Feasibility Study, Birmingham, University of Birmingham.
  • Arthur, J., Harrison, T., Taylor, E. (2015) Building Character through youth social action. Birmingham, University of Birmingham
  • Arthur, J. Harrison, T. et al (2014) Knightly Virtues – enhancing virtue literacy through stories. Birmingham, University of Birmingham

Other Publications

  • Ward, J. and Harrison, T. (2017) The Casey Review: British Values and the Common Language of Virtues, Unversity of Birmingham: Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues.
  • Harrison, T., Arthur, J. and Burn, E. (eds.) (2016) Character Education Evaluation Handbook for Schools, University of Birmingham, Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, [Online]. Available here
  • Harrison, T., Bawden, M., and Rogerson, L (2016) Teaching Character through Subjects, University of Birmingham, Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues [Online]. Available here
  • Harrison, T. (2014) The Influence of the Internet on the Character Virtues of 11-14 Year olds in England. Birmingham, University of Birmingham
  • Arthur, J. And Harrison, T. (2012) Exploring Good Character and Citizenship in England, Asia Pacific Journal of Education. 
  • Cremin, H., Harrison, T., Warwick, P., Mason, C. (2011) Engaging Practice; Engaging Young Citizens for Disadvantaged communities, London: CSV.
  • Harrison, T. (2010) Volunteering and Character, University of Birmingham.
  • Cremin, H., Harrison, T., Warwick, P. Mason, C (2009), Building Voice, Civic Action and Learning; What can we learn from young people living in socio-economically disadvantaged communities?, University of Leicester and University of Cambridge.
  • Harrison, T., and Hayes, A. (2009) Global Citizens; Effects on attitudes and practice of teachers undertaking voluntary projects overseas, VESL: Manchester.
  • Harrison, T. (2009) Working Together; schools and the voluntary sector, Canterbury: citizED.
  • Harrison, T. (2009) Citizenship Education and the Learning Outside the classroom manifesto, Canterbury: citizED.
  • Harrison, T. (2008) Citizenship Education and Community Involvement, Canterbury: citizED.
Research

Current;

PI: Teaching Character Through and Within Subjects (Funded by the Department of Education)

Co PI: Character, Service and Gratitude

Co-PI : Schools of Virtue

Co-PI: Interventions with Teachers, Doctors and Lawyers

Previous;

Co-PI: Knightly Virtues

Co-PI: My Character

Co-PI: Building Character Through Youth Social Action

Co-PI: engagED