Team appointed for sector-wide religion and belief research

ECU is delighted to announce that a research team from the University of Derby has been appointed to undertake our project Religion and belief in higher education: researching the experiences of staff and students.

The team

This project will be academically directed by the university's Society, Religion and Belief Research Group. It will be implemented by the International Centre for Guidance Studies, an applied research and development centre at the University of Derby with a wealth of experience in a broad range of disciplines in support of lifelong learning.

The project team is led by Professor Paul Weller who has researched and published extensively on subjects relating to religion and belief, equality and human rights issues and religious discrimination. This includes current Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded work on religion and discrimination and work in 2001 for the Home Office on the same subject.

Expertise in researching higher education will be provided by Dr Tristram Hooley and staff from the International Centre for Guidance Studies.

The research

The project will investigate the experience of staff and students in higher education with a religion and belief. It will use both quantitative and qualitative research methods to explore how staff and students of different religions and beliefs feel able to participate in higher education.

The project will examine how staff and students manage their identities as members of religions and/or believers during their time in higher education. In particular the team will explore issues of inclusiveness, accommodation of religious observance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief.

Further details

• Religion and belief in HE: researching the experiences of staff and students project