Education Studies News and Events

The first of two workshops involving staff from the Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit (WRERU) in the Centre for Education Studies (CES) at Warwick (Prof. Leslie Francis, Prof. Robert Jackson, Dr Elisabeth Arweck) and staff from Monash University (Dr Mary Lou Rasmussen, Prof. Gary Bouma, Prof. Greg Barton) took place from 7–9 June 2014.

The purpose of the workshop was to create a forum for the exchange of knowledge and research regarding diverse worldviews, education and social inclusion in the context of education about religions and beliefs in schools, to identify research and educational priorities, and to develop a collaboration plan for the follow-up workshop. The workshops are financially supported by the Warwick–Monash Alliance Seed fund which is designed to facilitate the development of joint research and educational collaboration between Monash University and the University of Warwick.

Congratulations to Angela Quartermaine, a doctoral researcher in Warwick Religious Education Research Unit (WRERU) who won two awards in the Research Postgraduate Poster Showcase, organised by the Research Student Skills Programme.

She received the first award for 'the best presentation and poster in Social Sciences' and the second award for 'the best overall poster'.

Thank you to all staff and students who attended the CES end of year picnic yesterday afternoon. The rain held off and everyone brought in a great selection of food and games. If you were unable to attend, take a look at some of the photos and we hope to see you at the next departmental event.

Paul Kissack, Director of Children’s Social Care Policy at the Department for Education will be visiting the University of Warwick on Wednesday 25 June to deliver the first IGGY and Civil Service Guest Lecture.

The lecture is open to local secondary schools (11-18 year olds) and internal University staff and students. There will be refreshments served prior to the lecture at 1pm and schools have the opportunity to sign up for a campus tour that will take place between 2.30pm – 3.30pm. More information here - https://www.iggy.net/news_events/events/event/civil-service-guest-lecture

Researchers from the University of Warwick’s Centre for Education Studies and Kingston University London have been successful in securing funding from the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust. Professor Eleanor Nesbitt and Dr Elisabeth Arweck from the Warwick Religions and Education Unit (WRERU) in the Centre for Education Studies and Dr Sonya Sharma from Kingston University London have been awarded a ‘Small Research Grant’ to explore the role of religion in families during times of austerity.

Since the 2008 economic recession, the UK economy has adjusted through measures of austerity, including the reduction of wages, state spending and public sector jobs. Families have therefore been essential, providing emotional, financial and practical support during times of austerity. Amid times of duress, research shows, people draw on a ‘reservoir of religious resources’ within them, tapping into these when crises occur. However, there is a gap in the research as to religion’s impact on how families cope in times of austerity and how austerity shapes families’ religious engagement.

The project will work with Christian and Muslim families from across the West Midlands to address this understudied area and explore how family and religious involvement intersect to sustain individuals during times of austerity and what role social class plays in such circumstances.

For further information please contact: educationresearch@warwick.ac.uk