Workshops
Bratislava, Slovakia
May 07-09, 2026

Taller | Framing ideas to redesign (character) education

We explore powerful framing ideas that challenge us to rethink and redesign education by placing the holistic growth of each person at the heart of learning and intentionally shaping educational cultures that help every student become who they are meant to be.

Event Information

Event Type: Framing ideas to redesign (character) education
Duration: 1h
Place: International Conference 'New Way of Working'. Skola Libellus, Mokrohájska cesta 3, Bratislava, Slovakia, 84104.
Price: Free admission

«Schools are perfectly designed for the results we are getting. If we don’t like the results, we need to redesign schools.»

– Paul Houston

Former Executive Director of the American Association for School Administrators.

Drawing from decades of research in school climate, character education, positive youth development, cognitive moral development, and social and emotional learning, the first part of this workshop presents framing thoughts that encourage the redesign of everyday school elements (e.g., assessments, discipline, relationships, priorities) to foster the holistic development of students, faculty, staff, families, and other stakeholders. Instead of relying solely on extraordinary initiatives (like specific curricula or additional programs), this approach calls for comprehensive change led by school leaders.

To support this, the second part of the workshop will introduce two programs that are designed to help develop the leadership needed for such a transformation: the PRIMED Institute and vLACE, both of which will soon be organized in South Africa. These programs aim to serve as catalysts for school redesign by building and nurturing local communities of practice among educational leaders, promoting the personal development of identity, integrity, and well-being in diverse cultural contexts.

For more information:

Dabdoub, J. P., Salgado, D., Bernal, A., Berkowitz, M. W., & Salaverría, A. R. (2023). Redesigning schools for effective character education through leadership: The case of PRIMED Institute and vLACE. Journal of Moral Education53(3), 558–574. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2023.2254510
Salgado, D., Bernal, A., Dabdoub, J. P., Berkowitz, M. W., & Bier, M. C. (2025). Character Education Formation Program as an Epiphany and Transformational Experience for Educational Principals in México. Research in Human Development, 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2025.2524298
Dabdoub, J. P., Salaverría, A. R., Álvarez-Kafati, M. C., & Berkowitz, M. W. (Under review). Creating cultures for character development: A Theory of change supported by vLACE, a scalable blended program. Journal of Moral Education
en_USEnglish