- Date 10 December 2025
- Time 09:00 - 12:30
- Location Online and Driestar Christian University, Gouda
- Registration required Yes, before 8 December 2025
Today's education is dominated by the rapid growth of digital technology. This raises questions for teachers that go beyond where they should set limits on its use. After all, the background to this is how we view humanity, the world and the future.
Christian education in times of AI: in search for inspiring pathways using the potential of philosophy of education.
This webinar explores the question of how a sound educational philosophy is important in this day and age. The occasion for this is the release of the book ‘The Courage to Guide. A Christian philosophy of education’ on this day.
The question of how we can find the right direction will be examined from two perspectives.
- British professor Trevor Cooling will consider how religious ideals contribute to the training of teachers in the 21st century and how they can be incorporated into educational theory.
- Doret de Ruyter, professor at the University of Utrecht, will address the question why (academic) reflection on teachers’ personal and professional aspirations is important in the current era.
In a forum discussion, participants will have the opportunity to engage in conversation with the speakers, the authors of the book to be presented, and with each other.
- Lecture by Trevor Cooling ‘The vitality of Religious Ideals in Philosophy of Education’
Prof. Dr. Trevor Cooling explores how religious ideals shape educational thinking and practice. He will reflect on the role of the teacher as a moral and spiritual guide.
- Lecture by: Doret de Ruyter ‘The flourishing teacher; an exploration of personal and professional ideals’
Prof. Dr. Doret de Ruyter explores what it means to be a flourishing teacher. Which personal and professional values and virtues are characteristic of such a teacher? She will also reflect on the relation between the two and why coherence is important for both teachers and students.
Book launch The Courage to Guide
Over the past year prof. Dr. Bram de Muynck and dr. Bram Kunz have been working on an international version of the Dutch-language book Gidsen (published in 2021), titled The Courage to Guide. This book will be launched on Wednesday morning 10 December.
Programme (English)
- 09.00-09.30 Arrival and welcome
- 09.30-09.45 Introduction to the theme by prof. Dr. Bram de Muynck
- 09.45-10.15 Trevor Cooling:'The vitality of religious Ideals in Philosophy of Education’
- 10.15-10.45 Doret de Ruyter:‘The flourishing teacher; an exploration of personal and professional ideals’
- 10.45-11.15 Break with coffee/tea
- 11.15-12.00 Forum discussion with Bram de Muynck, Bram Kunz, Trevor Cooling, and Doret de Ruyter. Moderator: Piet Murre
- 12.00-12.15 Book presentation by Willemieke Reijnoudt
- 12.15-13.00 Lunch
Registration
Please register for this event, if you want to attend online, after your registration you will receive further information/link to the webinar.