Researchers Claudia Vanney and Belén Mesurado participated in ECVA 2026, the Conference of the European Association for Character and Virtue, held at the University of Trnava (Slovakia), where they presented research on intellectual virtues, prudence and character development in educational contexts.
ECVA 2026 brought together leading researchers from around the world dedicated to the study of virtues, character education, and moral development for three days. Organized by the University of Trnava, the meeting unfolded in an atmosphere of intense academic exchange and interdisciplinary dialogue, attracting specialists, educators, and public policymakers interested in human and ethical formation.
On behalf of the Institute of Philosophy of the Universidad AustralClaudia Vanney and Belén Mesurado presented two works focused on intellectual virtues and their contribution to human development.
Belén Mesurado presented the work “The Intellectual Virtues and Prudence as Protective Factors of Maladaptive Personality Traits among Adolescents”, in which she analyzed how intellectual virtues and prudence can act as protective factors against maladaptive personality traits in adolescents, promoting a healthier cognitive and emotional development.
For her part, Claudia E. Vanney presented “Building Intellectual Character: Temporal Dynamics and Sequencing of Virtues in Higher Education,” a study that examines how different intellectual virtues develop and are articulated in university students, highlighting the central role of curiosity as a driving force for the growth of other capacities linked to learning and character formation.
In addition to the scientific activities, ECVA 2026 included the participation of representatives from the Slovak educational and governmental sectors. Particular emphasis was placed on the support expressed by national and regional authorities for the integration of character education into educational policies, underscoring the importance of academic research providing concrete evidence and proposals to inform decision-making.
