20th September 2022Centre News 10th Anniversary Year

As part of the Centre’s tenth annual conference, Integrating Research on Character and Virtues: 10 Years of Impact, a further three Ambassadors of Character were recognised at Oriel College, Oxford.

Recognising their exceptional contributions to character education, these commendations were presented by Heather Templeton Dill (President, John Templeton Foundation), Professor Jon Cruddas MP, and Jim Rahn (President, Kern Family Foundation) on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th September 2022.

 

The Centre's three new Ambassadors of Character are:

 

Dr. Karen E. Bohlin – Senior Fellow and Director of the Practical Wisdom Project,  Abigail Adams Institute, USA

Recognised for her work, in partnership with the centre, across the United States, Dr. Karen E. Bohlin is a keen advocate and thought leader in character education, practical wisdom and applied virtue ethics. Head of School at Montrose School in Boston for 18 years, Karen passionately led the school’s efforts in forming character and creating a vibrant school community.

Karen founded and remains director emerita of The Life Compass Institute for character and leadership. Throughout this time Karen has contributed actively to the work of the Centre and its predecessors, as a teaching fellow, by speaking regularly at conferences, seminars and webinars, and our podcast, as well as supporting the development of resources for schools. Now a Senior Fellow at The Abigail Adams Institute and Director of the Practical Wisdom Project, Karen continues her work in connecting character teaching theory and practice both within and beyond the classroom.

 

 

Julie Taylor – Assistant Professor and the Deputy Head of Primary Teacher Education, University of Warwick, UK

Julie Taylor is at the forefront of integrating character into teacher education at Warwick University. As an Assistant Professor and the Deputy Head of Primary Teacher Education within the Centre for Teacher Education, Julie has played an instrumental role in how the university approaches character education in Primary teaching.

Julie completed her Masters in Character Education in 2020 and has continued to work with the Jubilee Centre on various publications and webinars including most recently contributing a case study for the Centre’s recent book Understanding Character Education: Approaches, Applications and Issues which showcases the pioneering character work that she has led for student teachers.

 

 

Dan Wright – Headmaster, London Oratory School, UK

Headmaster of the London Oratory School Since 2018, Dan Wright advocates the development of character education in spiritual and moral virtues within the school.

As the first Teaching Fellow of the Jubilee Centre in 2014, Dan has contributed to several character education resources and publications with the Centre. Dan was the lead author of the Centre’s Secondary Programme of Study, designed to help young people explore and develop their character, this resource has been used by hundreds of schools. As headmaster, Dan has empowered his students to create thriving communities both within and beyond his school.

These three join seven others who have been recognised as Ambassadors of Character throughout 2022, in celebration of the Centre’s tenth year.

/userfiles/jubileecentre/images/newsletter-thumbs/2023/May/CSWWMay23.png

Character Strengths for the Working World is an essential event for PSHE Leads, Careers Leads, and Character Education Leads within UK educational institutions. Join us on Thursday, 13th July 2023, from 9am to 5pm at the beautiful Botanical Gardens, Birmingham.

 

This one-day conference, organised byThe Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham, aims to provide insights, knowledge, and networking opportunities for professionals committed to enhancing character development and employability skills in their students.

 

Our speakers will share their expertise and perspectives on educational policy and best practices for empowering students to excel in the working world through harnessing their character strengths. The event will include keynote speeches, policy and practitioner panels, interactive sessions, and opportunities to connect with a wide range of professionals and experts in the field.

 

Our line-up of distinguished speakers includes:

• Rt. Hon. Baroness Nicky Morgan (former Secretary of State for Education)

• Bec Tigue (Character Lead at the University of Birmingham School)

• David Harkin (CEO at 8 Billion Ideas)

• Adrian McLean (Character Ambassador and Multi-academy Trust Lead at Severn Academies)

• The Careers and Enterprise Company

 

Food and refreshments:

Morning coffee and pastries, lunch, afternoon tea, and a drinks reception will be provided as part of registration for you to enjoy.

 

Free resources:

There will be multiple free resources available for you to take away at this event. We will be launching a new workbook, based on research funded by the Society for Educational Studies, for use by careers guidance professionals and character educators to help students consider who they are, the character traits they aspire towards, and to align their career choices with this. We will also have multiple other free resources that educators can use within their practice based on over a decade of research at the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues.

 

Attendance is free, but spaces are limited. It is essential to reserve your place in advance to avoid disappointment. Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your institution's approach to character education and student employability. Register now to secure your spot at Character Strengths for the Working World.

 

Register here.