Teaching and Learning > PROJECTS

Cultural and Religious Diversity

The PRS Subject Centre worked with other subject centres to explore the implications of cultural and religious issues in higher education. For example, how does cultural and religious diversity impact upon teaching style, content, assessment and student support? The project was set up in response to interest from the academic community as they find themselves working with an increasingly diverse student population.

New legislation has recently been introduced which has given rise to concerns, and some uncertainty, about implications for the curriculum. The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, introduced in response to the Employment Directive, outlaws discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief in employment and vocational training. While this will have implications for students engaged in work-based learning, there is no consensus as to whether it applies to academic study more broadly.

Further information about this legislation - ACAS

The initial phase of the project was to disseminate a questionnaire via the subject centre websites. The response rate was excellent and we extended the closing date for the return of this by two months until 31st October 2004 to ensure that other colleagues had the opportunity to have their say.

On the whole, colleagues have requested resources that provide examples of good generic practice that can be replicated or extended to suit different situations. We are in the process of collecting case studies that will eventually be displayed on the subject centre website. There is also a desire for factual information about the content of cultural and religious traditions that can be easily referenced and digested.

Cultural and religious diversity resources

Also see our Faith Guides


This page was originally on the website of The Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies. It was transfered here following the closure of the Subject Centre at the end of 2011.

 

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The British Association for the Study of Religions
The Religious Studies Project