Archived WRERU News
BERA Annual Conference 2010
Three members of WRERU presented papers at the BERA 2010 annual conference. Dr Emyr
Williams presented ‘Conventional Christian belief and unconventional paranormal belief
among teenagers in Northern Ireland: a personality and individual differences approach’.
Sean Neill presented ‘Assessing the effectiveness of religious education in Hamburg and
Nordrheinwestphalia through structural modelling’. Dr Mandy Robbins presented ‘The
teenage religion and values survey in England and Wales: an overview’.
Professor Robert Jackson, playing trombone with Spicy Jazz at the British Educational
Research Association conference at the University of Warwick on 3rd September. The
saxophonist is Zoltan Sagi, from the Big Chris Barber band.
Professor Robert Jackson giving the Inaugural Lecture at the launch of the new religious
education and social science programme at the Norwegian School of Theology (MF), Oslo,
August 17 2010
Record number of doctorates in religions and education at Warwick
At the graduation ceremony on 21st July, seven candidates received doctoral degrees in
religions and education.
(left to right; Judith Everington, Oddrun Braaten, Sylvia Baker, Tania ap Sion, Mary
Hayward, Joyce Miller, David Bone)
The graduates with WRERU colleagues (left to right) Dr Sean Neill, Dr David Lankshear, Dr
Emyr Williams and Professor Robert Jackson.
New book out in the Religious Diversity and Education in Europe series
The book series Religious Diversity and Education in Europe, published by Waxmann,
started in 2006 and is now a major source of European research findings on religious
education, with no less than 19 volumes available. Titles can be viewed and ordered at:
http://www.waxmann.com/?id=21&cHash=1&reihe=1862-9547
The latest volume, by Dr Olga Schihalejev, is out 16 April 2010. Entitled From Indifference
to Dialogue? Estonian Young People, the School and Religious Diversity, the book is
dedicated to the memory of Pille Valk. Olga was a visiting fellow at Warwick Religions and
Education Research Unit in 2009.
Olga’s book contributes to discussions about religious education and its relation to young
people’s concerns and to social cohesion in Estonia. However, it also makes an important
contribution to the international debate about religions and education. It brings together
empirical studies conducted in Estonia in the framework of a major European project,
REDCo (Religion in Education: A contribution to Dialogue or a factor of Conflict in
transforming societies of European Countries?) setting the research in the context of wider
international debates.
The mixed methods research investigates the attitudes of 14-16 years old Estonians
towards religion and religious diversity, exploring their views on the role of the school in
promoting dialogue and tolerance among representatives of different worldviews, and
establishing the ways in which their experience of religious education affects their views on
these issues. Grounded in the findings of three empirical studies, Olga explores dialogical
pedagogies for non-confessional approaches to religious education and discusses policies
for strengthening active tolerance in the school context.
An order form can be downloaded here
Professor Robert Jackson meets the Dalai Lama in Montreal
Ethics and Religious Culture is a new course (introduced in 2008) taught in all elementary
and high schools in Quebec province, Canada. It replaced denominationally based forms of
religious education in public schools and is compulsory in all schools, private as well as
public. The aim of the subject is to promote and understanding of the religious heritage of
Quebec. The programme's key principles are Recognition of Others and Pursuit of the
Common Good. The course also aims to promote a ‘culture of dialogue’ among students.
The fact that the course is compulsory has caused some controversy.
In order to place the course in an international context, an international symposium for
educators, scholars and policymakers was held by McGill University’s Faculties of Education
and Religious Studies on October 2nd 2009. Professor Robert Jackson, Director of the
Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit at the University of Warwick, UK, and
Professor of Religious Diversity and Education at the European Wergeland Centre, Oslo,
gave the opening keynote presentation. Professor Jackson set the Quebec course in a
wider international perspective, giving reasons why a knowledge and understanding of
different religious traditions and secular philosophies is important in the public education of
all societies that embrace the human rights principle of freedom of religion or belief. Other
presentations were made by Professor Diane Moore of Harvard University, USA, Dr Isabelle
Saint-Martin, of the Sorbonne in Paris and Dr Spencer Boudreau of McGill University.
On Saturday 3rdOctober, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met Professor Jackson and Dr
Isabelle Saint-Martin together with the Principal and senior staff from McGill University
before speaking to and answering questions from a large audience, including 500 students
from universities in Quebec who are training to teach the Ethics and Religious Culture
programme.
British Journal of Religious Education on Social Sciences Citation Index and Arts
and Humanities Citation Index
Professor Robert Jackson, Editor of the British Journal of Religious Education, published by
Routledge, is delighted to announce that the journal has been selected for inclusion in both
the Social Sciences Citation Index® (SSCI) and the Arts & Humanities Citation Index®
(A&HCI) from 2008 onwards.
The Social Sciences Citation Index® and the Arts and Humanities Citation Index®,
accessed via Web of Science®, use “100% objective journal selection standards: Content
is carefully evaluated and selected, meeting high standards in areas such as impact,
influence, timeliness, peer review, and geographic representation. These standards assure
users of superior results that cannot be matched by a free search engine or less selective
database.“ – Thomson Reuters
The recent inclusion of British Journal of Religious Education reflects the high quality of
articles published in the Journal and marks an important milestone in its continued
development.
The journal publishes articles on religious education from around the world, many of them
relating to themes such as citizenship education, intercultural education, human rights
education and peace education.
For more information about the Journal, including information on how to submit an article,
visit the British Journal of Religious Education homepage
at:www.tandf.co.uk/journals/BJRE
Professor Robert Jackson and Tony Blair at the Face to Faith Launch
The launch of the Face to Faith Programme in London on June 9, 2009. From left: Robert
Stead (Polycom), Terry Culver (Global Nomads), Professor Bob Jackson, Tony Blair, Simmi
Kher, Principal of The Indian Heights School in New Delhi, Mahdu Gupta, Chair of The
Indian Heights School, Kanta Vadhera (British Council India) and Jo Malone, (Head of
Citizneship and PSHE, Westhoughton Technology College)
Face to Faith is designed to improve young people's religious literacy, which is a vital skill
in an increasingly complex, global society. It also offers an authentic and meaningful
environment in which students can develop key 21st century skills such as collaboration,
communication, critical thinking and problem-solving.
Face to Faith is being evaluated by a team of researchers from Warwick Religions and
Education Research Unit led by Professor Robert Jackson, Professor of Education at the
University of Warwick. The team includes Dr Nigel Fancourt, Dr Julia Ipgrave and Dr Mandy
Robbins.
Tony Blair said: “The Face to Faith programme provides students with a unique
opportunity to interact across continents, to talk about their own faith, and learn more
about other religions and cultures. It is only by discussing different cultural and religious
perspectives that young people can build their awareness of the role of faith in today’s
world.”
Designed by an international group of education experts and piloted with more than 1,000
students on three continents, Face to Faith uses video conferencing, an online community
and a course syllabus to support encounter, exploration and exchange between young
people of different faiths.
The programme has already been taken up by schools in India, Pakistan, Singapore,
Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Thailand, Indonesia, the US, the UK and Canada, who
have recognised the programme’s potential to improve young people’s religious literacy,
which is a vital skill in an increasingly complex, global society. Schools who have
participated in the pilots are already reporting increased awareness by their students of
the role of faith in today’s world as well as improved communication, critical thinking and
problem-solving skills from collaborating with those of different faiths and cultures.
Annika Small, Director of Education, Tony Blair Faith Foundation: “Drawing on educational
best practice, Face to Faith promotes active participation, collaboration and personal
reflection which helps students to explore diversity both within and between religious
traditions. By encouraging young people to enter into genuine dialogue with each other,
Face to Faith leads students to a deeper understanding of their own beliefs and worldviews
as well as those of others. The pilots have shown there is real enthusiasm for this sort of
encounter and exchange within a structured framework, which supports collaborative
learning and respect for difference.”
Brian Pearce Hon LLD (Doctor of Laws)
We are delighted to announce that the University of Warwick awarded Brian Pearce an
honorary Doctor of Laws degree at its degree congregation on July 15 th. Brian has had a
long association with Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit, and has been a
strong supporter of research and development in our field throughout his time at the Inter
Faith Network. All the members of the WRERU team send him our warmest congratulations
on the award of the degree.
(left to right - Richard Lambert, Chancellor of the University of Warwick and Director
General of the Confederation of British Industries, Dr Brian Pearce, Professor Robert
Jackson)
Brian recently retired as Director of the Inter Faith Network for the UK. He had been
Director of the Inter Faith network for the UK since it was established in 1987.
Before becoming involved full time in inter faith work, he served in the civil service from
1959 to 1986, including posts in the Department of Economic Affairs, Civil Service
Department and HM Treasury. He took a sabbatical from the Treasury to help with
exploratory work to look at the need for a new body which could link the major faiths in
the UK and promote good relations between people of different religions. He was already
active in the World Congress of Faiths, the Council of Christians and Jews and the InterFaith Committee of the British Council of Churches and set up the Inter Faith Network for
the UK.
The Inter Faith Network links national representative organisations of the Baha’i, Buddhist,
Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities; national and
local inter faith organisations; and educational bodies with an interest in inter faith and
multi faith issues. It works at national and local levels to foster inter faith co-operations
and understanding. Under Brian Pearce’s leadership, the Network has had significant
educational outreach, working with Ministries and with education NGOs such as the
Religious Education Council of England & Wales, the Shap Working Party on World
Religions in Education and European Association for World Religions in Education, and has
facilitated work at the interface between the study of religions and citizenship education
through the organisation of conferences.
Professor Robert Jackson speaks at the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
Second Forum
Professor Robert Jackson, WRERU’s Director, spoke on religious diversity and education at
the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UN AoC) Second Forum held in Istanbul on 6-7
April 2009.
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations is co-chaired by Turkey and Spain under the
auspices of the UN to foster international dialogue and co-operation. The conference was
hosted by the government of Turkey, and featured contributions from Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, President of the
Government of Spain, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and the UN Secretary General's
High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Jorge Sampaio, former President of
Portugal. The forum was attended by five heads of state, 26 foreign ministers, 11
ministers and high-level officials from 12 international and regional organizations.
The Alliance of Civilizations began in 2004 following the Madrid bombings, as part of
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero's aim of building closer links between
the Western and Islamic worlds, and combating terrorism through dialogue rather than
force.
Professor Robert Jackson, on behalf of WRERU, accepted an invitation to become a partner
in the AoC's online clearinghouse on Education about Religions and Beliefs. WRERU will
host the site for one month per year from 2009-12.
New free Council of Europe materials on Intercultural Competences
WRERU’s Director, Professor Robert Jackson and Senior Research Fellow Dr Julia Ipgrave
are members of the Council of Europe’s interdisciplinary project team on intercultural
education which has produced freely available material for pupils, students and teachers
on intercultural understanding. The project is called Autobiography of Intercultural
Encounters, and included contributions from specialists in languages, religion, history,
psychology and pedagogy, working together as a team. Materials for teachers, students
and adult education facilitators are now available free of charge on the Council of Europe
website at http://www.coe.int/t/DG4/AUTOBIOGRAPHY/
Further information can be found on our development projects web page.
One-Day Conference to Present Findings on Investigating the Religious Identity
Formation of Young People in Mixed-Faith Families
A well-attended conference on Thursday 26 March marked the start of the final lap of our
three-year, AHRC-funded research project “Investigating the Religious Identity Formation
of Young People in 'Mixed-Faith' Families”. Just over 50 participants came to the Ramada
(Warwick) Hotel and heard Dr Elisabeth Arweck's presentation of findings, highlighting the
experience of both the parents and the children in the families concerned. Professor Robert
Jackson presided, Professor Eleanor Nesbitt provided some comment on the wider context,
Dr Bill Gent ably facilitated group discussions and, from his deep experience, Rabbi Dr
Jonathan Romain provided a lively response to the day. His response and the participants’
perceptive questions and comments are particularly helpful at this stage of our data
analysis, reflection and preparation for wider dissemination.
Our thanks to all who participated in the research, to all who attended the conference, to
the staff of the Ramada (Warwick) Hotel, and to the AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research
Council).
Eleanor Nesbitt and Elisabeth Arweck
WRERU at the European Parliament
Professor Robert Jackson, Director of Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit, and
two other members of the EC REDCo research project team gave presentations at a
packed event at the European Parliament in Brussels on December 3rd 2008.
Jan Figel, the Commissioner for Education for the European Commission, spoke about the
importance of tolerance and learning about religious diversity in European schools.
Professor Jackson spoke of the synergy between work done by the Council of Europe, the
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the research on young people
conducted by the REDCo research team from eight European countries. Professor Jackson
has been very involved in the work of all three institutions.
European Parliament, Brussels, 3rd December 2008
Left to right
Jan Figel, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth
Thomas Fischer, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Brussels
Professor Wolfram Weisse, University of Hamburg
Professor Robert Jackson, University of Warwick
Professor Jean-Paul Willaime, Sorbonne, Paris
Professor Robert Jackson
WRERU’s AHRC/ESRC Success
WRERU is delighted to announce its successful bid for a large grant to the AHRC/ESRC
Religion and Society Programme. The mixed methods project on young people’s attitudes
to religious diversity will be conducted in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
for 3 years from 1 October 2009. The project team, led by Professor Robert Jackson,
includes Professor Leslie Francis, Dr Julia Ipgrave, Dr Elisabeth Arweck, Dr Mandy Robbins
and Dr Ursula McKenna.
Further details of the AHRC/ESRC Religion and Society Programme can be found at
http://www.religionandsociety.org.uk/
Diversity shapes Europe’s Future
Professor Robert Jackson
(http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wie/research/wreru/aboutus/latestnews/berlin1.jpg)
gave a keynote lecture on 18th September 2008 at a major European conference ‘Diversity
shapes Europe’s Future: The Contribution of Intercultural Dialogue and Religion to
Education for Living together in Europe’. The conference was held in Berlin and organized
by the Inter-European Commission on Church and School in collaboration with the Coordinating Group for Religion in Education in Europe (CoGREE) and other European bodies.
Professor Jackson’s topic was ‘Teaching about Religious Diversity in the Public Sphere:
European Policy Initiatives’ and included reference to contributions from the Council of
Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe to which he has
contributed extensively. Other speakers
(http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wie/research/wreru/aboutus/latestnews/berlin4.jpg)
included Ján Figel, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth who
spoke of the EC’s commitment to an open and structured dialogue with religious
communities, Ulrich Bunjes, Head of Youth in Directorate IV at the Council of Europe and
Dr Abduljalil Sajid, Chairman 'European Union Taskforce 2008 European Year of
Intercultural Dialogue'.
WRERU Wins Major DCSF Research Project
Professor Robert Jackson led a team from WRERU who submitted a tender for a major
research project commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families on
materials used to teach about world religions. Warwick's bid was successful and the project
started in August 2008, and will be completed in Autumn 2009. The research team includes
13 Warwick researchers, a panel of specialist academics, a panel of senior RE professionals
and a group of consultants from different faith traditions. The research includes a survey of
the use of materials for RE in English schools, 20 case studies of the use of materials in RE in
different kinds of schools, and a review of materials being used in RE, by academics,
professional experts and faith-based consultants.
WRERU Members at BSA Sociology of Religion Study Group Annual Conference
Prof. Leslie J. Francis, Dr Many Robbins, and Dr Elisabeth Arweck presented current research
at the annual meeting of the BSA Sociology of Religion Study Group. The conference took
place at the Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham, 8–10 April 2008.
The conference theme on “Religion and Youth” provided an ideal opportunity to report
research on young people in this forum. Prof. Francis and Dr Robbins gave a plenary
address, entitled “Too Many Young People and Too Many Variables?”, which drew insights
from a range of quantitative surveys (see Dr Robbins’s publications). The presentation was a
show-case of their large and authoritative survey of 34,000 13– to 15–year-old pupils and
illustrated how a study of this magnitude (informed by sociological, psychological,
educational and theological perspectives) was able to lead to a number of focused
theoretically driven analyses.
Dr Arweck’s presentation was based on the “Experiences of Young People Who Grow Up in
Mixed-faith Families”, a WRERU project which is ongoing. Using two cases studies, the paper
interrogated the French sociologist Danièle Hervieu-Léger’s notion of religion as a chain of
memory.
The conference attracted an international audience and thus offered an interesting variety of
issues and developments regarding young people and religion. Apart from sessions
considering social and spiritual capital, faith based youth groups, religious association and
identity, religious change, alternative religions, gender and sexuality, two sessions were
devoted to religion in schools and education. The combination of participants, topics, lively
discussions, and the venue proved a most conducive setting for a successful and stimulating
conference.
Toledo Guiding Principles
Professor Bob Jackson has been a member of the drafting team of the Toledo Guiding
Principles on Teaching about Religions and Beliefs in Public Schools, and gave a speech at
the launch
(http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wie/research/wreru/aboutus/latestnews/DSCF1349.jpg)
in Madrid on 28th November 2007. The Toledo Guiding Principles were written in response to
requests from the UN and other inter-governmental bodies to facilitate teaching about
religions and beliefs in order to promote tolerance and understanding. They are published by
the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Professor Jackson is taking part in the
dissemination programme in the 56 participating states, including most of Europe plus the
USA and Canada.
The group brought together to produce the Toledo Guiding Principles includes members of
the ODIHR’s Advisory Council of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief. These include
authorities on international law (with experience in dealing with legal questions related to
the exercise of religious freedom), education and the social sciences. Additional experts in
the fields of religion, education and pedagogy were brought in to assist in the preparation of
the guiding principles. The group as a whole reflects a range of different religious and nonreligious positions, helping to ensure that the perspective of different religious and belief
communities is taken into account and that the guiding principles are balanced and inclusive.
The Toledo Guiding Principles includes chapters on the human rights framework and teaching
about religions and beliefs, preparing curricula, teacher education and respecting rights in
the process of implementing courses in teaching about religions and beliefs.
Professor Robert Jackson's latest presentation on the Toledo Guiding Principles was at the
University of Perugia in Italy on 11th December 2008, attended by leading Italian scholars in
religious diversity, human rights law and intercultural education.
The full text of the Toledo Guiding Principles is available at:
http://www.osce.org/item/28314.html
The Fifth Cup
The premiere of The Fifth Cup at The Drum, Birmingham on Thursday 13th December was
especially significant for WRERU. Not only is religious education central to the plot,
but Rena Dipti Annobil, one of the play's two script writers and producers, had (aged 9)
been a key contributor to a WRERU research project on two Punjabi communities.
The play, supported by the Arts Council and 'Awards for All' Lottery Funding, was produced
by Caste Away Arts, the artistic arm of CasteWatchUK. It re-enacts the suffering of
members of these two Punjabi communities in the UK because of caste-prejudice among
Sikhs. An RE teacher's lessons on 'the caste system' lead to Amrit Singh's not only
discovering his family's experience of persecution but also to his being bullied by a Jat Sikh
classmate, and the RE teacher's unawareness of the real-life implications of
caste contribute to Amrit's exclusion from school.
Well done Rena and all involved!
Council of Europe
On behalf of the Council of Europe, Professor Robert Jackson
organised the academic
programme for the first European Regional Debate on “The religious dimension of
intercultural education” in Athens, Greece, on 8- 9 October 2007. The conference
was
organised in co-operation with the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs in the
framework of the Council of Europe Project “Intercultural Education and the Challenge of
Religious Diversity and Dialogue in Europe”. The conference disseminated the main
outputs from the project - Religious Diversity and Intercultural Education: A Reference
Book for Schools (Strasbourg, Council of Europe Publishing) - and the draft policy
recommendations on teaching about religious diversity as part of intercultural education in
Europe, to be published by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2008.
Both the book and the policy declaration are being disseminated in the 47 member states
of the Council of Europe.
European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR)
Professor Bob Jackson gave the keynote public lecture at the European Association for the
Study of Religions conference in Bremen, Germany on September 25th. This was the first
major international conference on the academic study of religions to concentrate on the
interface between Religious Studies (or the Science of Religions) and education about
religious diversity in schools and other educational contexts. The lecture, entitled 'Theory,
Policy and Practice in Public Education about Religious Diversity: An International
Perspective', was delivered to a large audience of European and international scholars in
religious studies and to local guests, in the beautiful Bremen city hall (rathaus) . The
lecture charted recent policy developments on teaching and learning about religious
diversity in European institutions, such as the Council of Europe and the Organisation for
Security and Co-operation in Europe, in which Professor Jackson has been closely involved.
He emphasised the social relevance of religious studies and the importance of academic
studies of religions in universities as a key resource in the supply of suitably qualified
teachers across Europe and more widely internationally.
WRERU expands
The Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit has extended its range of research
expertise through the appointment of new staff. Professor Leslie Francis has been
appointed as a new professor in religions and education. Among his many areas of
expertise, he is a leading international expert in psychology and religion and in
quantitative research methods. He will join the WRERU team in October 2007, together
with Dr Mandy Robbins and Dr Emyr Williams who will take up full time research posts.
WRERU is delighted to announce that Dr Eleanor Nesbitt has been promoted to a professor
in religions and education, also from October 2007.
The new appointments bring WRERU’s current staffing complement to three full professors,
an associate professor, and six research fellows, and will enable the Unit to design more
multi-disciplinary and multi-method research projects and to participate further in
international research
Three major new research grants for WRERU and partners
Developing the Interpretive Approach to Religious Education through Action
Research within a Community of Practice
The Westhill Endowment Trust has awarded Warwick Religions and Education Research
Unit a grant to support a project promoting innovation in religious education teaching and
learning. This is the Warwick REDCo Community of Practice, an English contribution to a
wider European investigation (involving 8 countries) into approaches to religious education
that can best create dialogue between young people from different backgrounds and
address issues of conflict. REDCo is an acronym for ‘Religion in education: a contribution to
dialogue or a factor of conflict in transforming societies of European countries?’ The core
work of the REDCo project, including large scale studies of young people’s attitudes to
teaching about religion in schools, is funded by the European Commission from 20062009. Supplementary studies, such as the Warwick REDCo Community of Practice, are not
supported by funding from the European Commission.
The Warwick REDCo Community of Practice is a group of serving teachers, lecturers and
advisers who are committed to using action research as a means to develop teaching and
learning in RE which promotes dialogue and addresses issues of conflict and difference.
Each member of the community of practice is conducting a school or university based
study. These are not isolated studies, however. The point of the community of practice is
to bring participants together on a regular basis so they can offer mutual support and
criticism, and develop generic ideas together which will contribute to achieving the goals of
the wider European project. The grant from Westhill Endowment Trust will fund regular
weekend seminars (2007-2009), school visits and publications.
Religion in Education: A Contribution to Dialogue or a Factor of Conflict in
Transforming Societies of European Countries (REDCo)
Professor Bob Jackson and three other national project leaders from the EC Framework 6
Project on Religious Education, Dialogue and Conflict in Europe (REDCo) have edited
REDCo's first book. This has just been published by Waxmann. The book includes Professor
Jackson's paper on 'European institutions and the contribution of studies of religious
diversity to education for democratic citizenship', presented in an earlier form to the
International Seminar on Religious Education and Values in the Netherlands. Please click
here for details of how to purchase the book.
Investigating the religious identity formation of young people in mixed-faith
families
The Arts and Humanities Research Council have made an award for a three-year study
(starting Spring 2006). The project will be directed by Professor Eleanor Nesbitt and
Professor Robert Jackson. The focus will be on 8 to 13 year olds and in each case parents
will be from two of the following faiths: Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh. The fact that
the number of mixed-faith families is increasing has interesting implications for religious
education's traditional world religions approach.
Higher Doctorate for WRERU Director
Professor Bob Jackson was awarded a higher doctorate (DLitt) by the University of Wales
for his contribution over the last decade to research on religious diversity and education.
Bob did his first degree at the University of Wales, Lampeter, and returned in July 2006 to
receive the DLitt.
New WRERU Publications
Dr Mandy Robbins book entitled ‘Clergywomen in the Church of England: a psychological
study’ has been published this month by Edwin Mellen Press. This study explores data from
over 1,000 clergywomen in the Church of England and represents a benchmark for
charting the similarities and differences between the institution’s female pioneers and their
successors. With roots in both theology and psychology, this book uses personality theory
to examine the individual differences in the ministry of clergywomen. The book is available
for purchase in hardback from Edwin Mellen.
Professor Robert Jackson is one of five editors of a new two volume international handbook
on Religious, Moral and Spiritual Dimensions in Education, published by Springer. The
handbook has nearly 90 contributions from scholars around the world. The other editors
are Marian Desouza and Kath Engebretson (Australia), Gloria Durka (USA) and Andrew
McGrady (Ireland).
Bob Jackson's section focuses on Religious Education and Culture and includes (as well as
his own contributions) chapters from Geir Skeie and Sissel Ostberg (Norway), Eleanor
Nesbitt, Andrew Wright and Liam Gearon (UK), Fernand Ouellet (Canada), Mireille
Estivalezes (France), Wilna Meijer (the Netherlands), Bruce Grelle and Mary Elizabeth
Moore (USA), Terence Lovat, Philip Hughes and Richard Rymarz (Australia), John Wright
(New Zealand), Recep Kaymakcan (Turkey) and David Chidester (South Africa).
The hardback version of the handbook (just published) is mainly aimed at libraries. A
paperback version is likely to follow towards the end of the year. Further details can be
found here.
Members of WRERU have contributed to an Occasional Paper published by the Oslo
Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Intercultural Education and Religious Plurality
consists of research based discussions aimed at helping educators and policy makers to
bring the dimension of religious diversity to intercultural education in Europe. The report is
written by members of Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit as a contribution to
the Oslo Coalition’s Project on Teaching for Tolerance and Freedom of Religion or Belief.
Contributors are Bob Jackson, Ursula McKenna, Eleanor Nesbitt, Kevin O'Grady, Julia
Ipgrave, Amy Whittall, Karen Steele and Bill Gent.
Doctoral Success: Dr Ursula McKenna and Dr Barbara Wintersgill
Ursula McKenna has successfully completed her EdD degree, which will be awarded in July
2008. Ursula’s EdD studies included Towards an inclusive pedagogy for religious education
in primary schools and A discussion of the relationship between intercultural education,
religious diversity and religious education. The title of the thesis is Teacher Perspectives on
the Building E-Bridges Project. The use of Email in Primary Schools to Promote Interfaith
Dialogue amongst Pupils across the UK. Ursula’s study contributed to a wider evaluation of
the Building E-Bridges Project, a school based project linking primary aged children from
Leicester schools with others from schools in East Sussex. A book based on the evaluation
study is due for publication later this year. The details are:
McKenna, U. Ipgrave, J. & Jackson, R. (2008) Interfaith Dialogue by Email in Primary
Schools: An Evaluation of the Building E-Bridges Project, Münster, Waxmann. (link to order
form)
Barbara Wintersgill’s PhD will be awarded in July 2008. The title of the thesis is Teenagers'
perceptions of spirituality. Until her retirement Barbara was the senior national HMI for
religious education. She came across WRERU when sent by Ofsted to inspect the Warwick
MA in Religious Education course. Having awarded the MA top grades in all aspects of its
delivery, she herself registered to do an M level course, including research training, and
then registered to do the PhD. This is the first substantial study of adolescents’ ideas of
spirituality, and pioneered the use of e-interviewing. Barbara is to become an Associate
Fellow in WRERU and will continue research on spirituality in collaboration with Professor
Leslie Francis.
Former student - Dr Sissel Østberg
One of the Institute of Education's former PhD students, Sissel Østberg, has just been
appointed as Rektor (Vice Chancellor) of Oslo University College (11000 students and 1100
staff). The announcement is on
https://mywebmail.warwick.ac.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.hio.no/content
/view/full/56907
Sissel did her PhD (part time) on Pakistani children in Oslo with Professor Robert Jackson
as supervisor. The degree was awarded in 1999.