Religious Education Research
in British Universities

Do you want to know more about research, taught courses and accredited programmes in UK universities? The Conference of University Lecturers in Religious Education has over 120 registered members. (1999-2000) The Conference exists to support lecturers and researchers who work in the areas associated with Religious Education in schools, and as a national voice for RE in the universities. This means that CULRE is consulted about proposed national developments in the subject by government, government agencies, the media, researchers and educators.

This article is intended as a brief summary of CULRE's areas of interest for the year 2000. Information should be updated each year to take note of any changes of personnel at executive level and to report on developments in research and training.

Areas of expertise of CULRE members include initial teacher training at undergraduate and post-graduate levels, continuing professional development for teachers and other educators including higher degree courses, and the development, implementation and support of research. If you want to know more about courses and research opportunities offered in Religious Education, or in Theology or Religious Studies, contact with CULRE is one of the quickest routes. CULRE has formal (and informal) links with other national RE associations such as the Religious Studies section of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education, and the Religious Education Council of England and Wales.

The Conference's register contains the names and addresses of many internationally and nationally renowned lecturers and researchers in Religious Education, and they can be contacted either through their own institutions (universities and colleges) or through the current Chair of the Conference, Linda Rudge, Director of the Keswick Hall Centre for Research and Development in Religious Education at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK NR4 7TJ (e-mail l.rudge@uea.ac.uk). CULRE does not have its own website (yet) but most universities in the UK do, and the UEA RE Centre website is available on http://www.uea.ac.uk/edu/religion.html.

SUMMARY INFORMATION on a selection of current courses and research

Initial teacher training (for teachers in primary and secondary education)
Postgraduate students from Religious Studies, Theology and related disciplines apply through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry for places on courses of one academic year (September-June/July). These courses are taught through a university component covering general professional development and skills, and subject specific taught programmes. Students are assessed through the higher education provider and through the schools in which they are placed and spend two thirds of their time, against standards for Qualified Teacher Status set by government departments and agencies.

Continuing professional development and higher degrees
Qualified teachers and other educators or researchers can apply to universities and colleges for places on part or full time higher degree programmes (Masters level, EdD, or PhD for example).

Research students, including international students, can often join these continuing professional programmes, or enrol for research degrees focused either on education, or an area of specialist interest. Many of CULRE's members work in institutions with well-established international programmes and high ratings for research and teaching.

Research in Religious Education
Research in RE in schools and elswhere is a vibrant and exciting field in the UK. Publications which cover the results of some of these research projects can be found in the British Journal of Religious Education, the Journal of Beliefs and Values, the International Journal of Children's Spirituality, and many other internationally refereed journals. Details of current research and other publications can be obtained through CULRE.

If you want to know more, e-mail l.rudge@uea.ac.uk for further contacts.

by Linda Rudge