Faculty and staff from Grand Canyon University’s Canyon Center for Character Education and the Office of Research and Grants represented the university recently at the 14th annual Jubilee Centre Conference for Character and Virtue.
The conference, titled “Caught, Taught and Sought: Theories and Evidence,” was hosted Jan. 8-10 at Oriel College at Oxford University.
“This was the first time GCU was invited to present and join this highly prestigious global conference,” said GCU Provost Dr. Randy Gibb.
Dr. Peter Anderson, CCCE director, and Dr. Scott Greenberger, associate vice president of Research and Grants, presented the talk “Reflective Practice in Character Formation: A Tri-Axial Framework.”
They spoke about the role of reflection in character formation within Christian higher education. What they shared in their talk was how the three axes of readiness, direction and regulation link structured reflection to virtuous action.
They also expressed how the framework addresses the gap between knowledge and action by giving reflection explicit evaluative and normative criteria, and they showed how established character education strategies can be reinterpreted within this structure.
Also presenting from GCU were Emily Farkas, CCCE director, and Dr. Ashley Brandon, CCCE assistant director, whose talk was titled “From Vision to Practice: Integrating the Caught, Taught and Sought Model through the Canyon Center for Character Education.”
Their session examined the strategic development and implementation of character education resources by the CCCE. They spoke about how initiatives such as the “Activities and Applications: Character Education Book,” professional development programs and digital tools integrate theory with practice to advance prekindergarten through 12th grade character formation.
At the conference, Anderson, Greenberger, Farkas and Brandon said they learned from peer institutions, shared common challenges and effective models, and gathered insights to support the expansion of Christian character education at GCU on a universitywide scale.
The United Kingdom-based Jubilee Centre, founded in 1983, is a pioneering interdisciplinary research center focused on character, virtues and values in the interest of human flourishing. It aims to promote the development of good character in education, professions and society on a global scale.
Anderson said being part of the conference was an honor.
“The gathering offered shared learning that deepened my conviction that cultivating Christian character is both essential and possible within our campus community and beyond,” he said. “Our work could have a real impact on students, faculty and our entire community as we aim to cultivate virtue in light of our ultimate purpose.
“I am hopeful and encouraged, grateful to be welcomed into a global community devoted to the serious and meaningful work of character formation.”
Added Brandon, “The sessions and keynotes inspired and enlightened me, while the conversations and connections were deeply refreshing; overall, it was a strong reminder of why community matters in this work.”
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Read the presenters' papers here.
