The UBI Research Center is one of the supporting partners of the Contemplative Education Network (CEN), an international network established to promote research and collaboration in the field of contemplative education and to foster its application across various sectors of society. Through organizational support and direct involvement in working groups, the Study Center actively contributes to the development of this initiative, in full alignment with its mission: to promote an education inspired by the values of Buddhism and other religious traditions, and oriented toward the transformative potential of contemplative practice.
Participating in the building of CEN means contributing to a process of critical and regenerative rethinking of the very concept of education—toward a model of learning that integrates awareness, responsibility, and care.
Contemplative Education
Contemplative education is an emerging field in the academic and pedagogical landscape. It integrates the practices and philosophies of contemplative traditions—including Buddhist traditions—with contemporary approaches developed within the framework of Contemplative Studies.
This approach encourages convergence between academic research and contemplative practices that support individual awareness and promote collective learning. Contemplative education fosters focused attention, reflective inquiry, and a relational understanding of the contexts in which individuals are embedded—from the family to social, educational, and environmental spheres.
Recent studies have shown that such approaches enhance motivation to learn, the development of prosocial qualities such as compassion and kindness, and greater capacities for attention and emotional regulation.
The Contemplative Education Network
The Contemplative Education Network was founded in June 2024 in Padua, on the occasion of an international conference on contemplative research. The event brought together over 350 scholars and researchers from around the world and was organized by the UBI Research Center in collaboration with the International Society for Contemplative Research, Mind & Life Europe, and the University of Padova.
CEN was born out of the need to create a stable space for the sharing of ideas, practices, and experiences in the field of contemplative education. It builds upon the legacy of earlier initiatives promoted by institutions such as the Mind & Life Institute, the Garrison Institute, and Contemplative Mind in Society, which are no longer active today.
The Network’s approach is multidisciplinary, collaborative, and inclusive. Its aim is to support contemplative education at all levels of the educational system—from early childhood to university—by integrating scientific and humanistic knowledge. Key priorities include the development of shared standards, guidelines, training models, and theoretical and practical resources. Special attention is given to evaluating the social impact of contemplative education, with the goal of promoting its institutional recognition.
CEN Activities
In January 2025, the first online workshop was held, dedicated to defining the identity and goals of the Network as an independent, collaborative space open to a plurality of approaches and perspectives.
A second workshop, held in April 2025, launched four thematic working groups that became active in May 2025:
Network Development
Curriculum Design and Resource Sharing for Contemplative Education
Mentorship and Support Systems
Advocacy and Public Engagement
The next CEN workshop will take place online on Friday, 27 June 2025. The session, open to all, will focus on reviewing ongoing workstreams. All Network activities are conducted in English.
Contacts and Further Information
Official website: contemplative-education.com
Email: contemplative.ed.network@gmail.com
