 ‘Mission statement’ ◦ To support and promote philosophical, theological and religious studies higher education in the UK  We work with and for academics and students, to provide subject specific support for the learning and teaching of: ◦ Philosophy ◦ History & Philosophy of Science, Technology & Medicine ◦ Theology ◦ Religious Studies ◦ Biblical Studies

 The Subject Centre for Philosophical & Religious Studies (PRS) is part of a UK network of 24 Subject Centres, each of which provides subject-specific support to their own disciplines.  The Subject Centre (SC) network is part of the Higher Education Academy:  Subject Centre staff are PRS academics with a range of research and teaching experience.

 Facilitate the sharing of expertise ◦ Via events (e.g.)  Teaching Spirituality (January 2010)  Courting Controversy (July 2010)  departmental workshops, contributions to other events ◦... publications (e.g.)  Journal – Discourse  Guides – e.g. employability; ethics; faith guides ◦ … and our website:

 Support new developments (e.g.) ◦ Employability: ‘Working with Values’ project ◦ Education for sustainable development ◦ SC-funded research & development projects (e.g.)  Doctoral ‘training’ and professional development (currently supporting 5 regional/national projects)  Progression  E-learning

 Background ◦ Feedback from other Subject Centres ◦ Growing interest in diversity issues ◦ Informing the Faith Guides

 Culture: The symbolic and expressive aspects of human behaviour  Cultural traditions: Norms about how and what to do, often passed down through families and communities

 Faith: A person’s beliefs and values  Religion: A set of observances connected to faith and often shared by a community

 Race: Social divisions based on skin colour and physical features  Ethnicity: Membership of a social group, often related to a geographical region or place of origin, with distinctive language, customs, attitudes and values

 The project outcomes are: ◦ Online resources, at: prs.heacademy.ac.uk/projects/diversity ◦ Case studies ◦ Faith Guides ◦ FAQs ◦ Informed by a survey

 Situations where adjustment was felt necessary to accommodate the religious/ cultural needs of students  How HE Academy Subject Centres could help

 Around 150 responses  Staff often felt poorly supported  Lack of access to appropriate resources  Lack of time to reflect on the issues  Need for further work to be done in this area

 Responses broadly split into four categories: ◦ Religious festivals and holy days ◦ Course content ◦ Teaching styles ◦ Student participation

 Festivals and holy days ◦ Timetabling and assessment ◦ Relative significance  Need for calendar of festivals:  Course Content ◦ Reflecting the worldview/ cultural values of students ◦ Avoiding sensitive issues

 Teaching styles ◦ Teaching styles students are familiar with ◦ Avoiding stereotypes  Student participation ◦ Social events ◦ Classroom ◦ Work placements ◦ Field trips

 Barriers ◦ Lack of information/ training ◦ Cultural constraints ◦ Diverse student body ◦ Institutional limitations ◦ Finding reliable resources

 Religion on the internet ◦ Information overload ◦ Quality and reliability of sites ◦ Sectarian issues ◦ Religious resources ◦ Cross-cutting themes

 Growing amount of legislation in effecting this area, covering such as: ◦ Education ◦ Human Rights ◦ Employment equality ◦ Race relations ◦ Racial and religious hatred ◦ Terrorism see:

 The Subject Centre has produced Faith Guides on: ◦ Christianity ◦ Judaism ◦ Hinduism ◦ Islam ◦ Sikhism  A Buddhism Guide is on the way!

 Concise, accessible introductions to the world religions for use in higher education (HE).  Written by respected academics in consultation with religious communities.

 To provide individuals, departments, and institutions within HE with: ◦ Basic information about the world religions; ◦ An awareness and understanding of the cultural and religious dynamics of student experience in HE; ◦ Insights into key religious and cultural sensitivities that may arise within an HE environment; ◦ Tips and resource information on issues relating to teaching people of faith in HE.

1. A general introduction to the faith: ◦ Core beliefs ◦ Brief history ◦ Origins and current situation ◦ UK presence and diversity ◦ Broad cultural issues ◦ ‘Debunking common stereotypes’ ◦ Potential points of discrimination

2. Focus on specific issues: ◦ Key sensitivities ◦ Use of language ◦ Moral and ethical issues ◦ Specific cultural issues, including dress codes ◦ Issues of gender and sexuality ◦ Festivals calendar

3. Focus on issues specific to HE: ◦ Participation ◦ Activities that may be prohibitive ◦ Access/recruitment/retention (including pastoral care) issues ◦ Employability issues ◦ Barriers to success

4. Resources section: ◦ Appropriate organisations ◦ Sources of practical help ◦ Useful websites ◦ Bibliography

 The Guides are £3 each.  For more information on the Guides, please see h_guides.html h_guides.html  Alternatively, contact Julie Closs on , or