Education Studies News and Events

Insights from the prayer board within a Christian Ethos school: A qualitative perspective  

This study emerges from the qualitative strand of the Ten Leading Christian Ethos Schools project at Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Warwick. Following the identification of the school prayer board and intercessory prayers within school Eucharists as offering a significant contribution to the Christian ethos of one of the schools, this study set out to offer a critical evaluation of these prayers composed by students. Taking a sample of almost 300 prayers, the study employs an established analytic framework for the analysis and classification of intercessory prayer (distinguishing between prayer intention, prayer reference, and prayer objective) that has been employed previously by ap Siôn in a series of studies concerning prayers posted in churches, in cathedrals, in hospitals, and online. The findings draw attention to the distinctive profile of the prayers offered within the particular school in terms of the issues for which prayers are offered, and the religious language and themes that shape these prayers. Suggestions are made regarding how these themes and linguistic forms may be shaping the spiritual and religious lives of the students. On the basis of these analyses suggestions are offered for the development of the ministry of intercessory prayer within Christian ethos schools and for further research within other Christian ethos schools.

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Professor Robert Jackson Honorary Doctorate Norwegian School of Theology

Professor Robert Jackson has received an honorary doctorate from the Norwegian School of Theology in Oslo on 21^st October. Professor Jackson is an Emeritus Professor in the Centre for Education Studies at Warwick, former Director of Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit, which he founded in 1994 (and in which he remains active), and currently Visiting Professor in Education at Stockholm University. The degree was awarded to Professor Jackson for his contributions to the development of religious education in Norway, and for his international work in this field, including developing research links between Warwick and Scandinavian universities.

MF Norwegian School of Theology (founded 1908) is an accredited Specialized University focusing on Theology, Religion, and Social Studies, located in Oslo, and is Norway’s largest University dealing with theology, studies of religions and social sciences. With three departments (the Department of Theology, the Department of Religious Education and Pedagogical Studies, and the Department of Religion and Society), MF educates scholars, teachers, ministers, and other professionals at undergraduate and postgraduate levels for leadership and service both nationally and internationally.

Professor Linda Woodhead of Lancaster University also received an honorary doctorate at the same ceremony. Professor Woodhead led the Religion and Society Programme, Britain’s largest research programme in the field (with over 75 research projects), funded jointly by the AHRC and ESRC. Professor Jackson was on the Steering Committee of the programme and co-ordinated the research projects concerned with religion and education, as well as leading Warwick’s own project on Young People’s Attitudes to Religious Diversity. The findings of the Warwick Diversity project were published this year (E. Arweck [ed.] Young People’s Attitudes to Religious Diversity, London: Routledge 2017).

Professor Jackson was also awarded an honorary doctorate by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in March 2017 for his contributions to European research and policy development related to the religious dimension of intercultural education, associated with the Council of Europe, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations programme.

Xuemeng Cao (CES), a PhD student supervised by Emily Henderson and Ian Abbott, has been awarded a full scholarship from the prestigious Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) for her doctoral studies. CSC is a non-profit institution which is affiliated with the Ministry of Education of China. The objective of the CSC is to provide financial assistance to the Chinese citizens wishing to study abroad and to the foreign citizens wishing to study in China in order to develop the educational, scientific and technological, and cultural exchanges and economic and trade cooperation between China and other countries. Xuemeng's research interests are related to higher education and education internationalization. Her doctoral project is entitled ‘Enhancing the Employability of International Students: Chinese students on taught Master's programmes in social sciences’.

Free seminar at SRHE (near King's Cross, London) on 4th July. Speakers: Marie-Pierre Moreau (Roehampton), Emily Henderson (Warwick), and representatives of academic associations. "In Two Places at Once" is a small-scale, exploratory study which aims to explore how academics' caring responsibilities intersect with their attendance of and participation in conferences. Lunch provided and care bursaries available.

For more details and to register, visit the event link:
http://srhe.ac.uk/events/details.asp?eid=306

Info about the project:
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/…/…/ces/research/current/twoplaces