A Short Account of the Talk:

This lecture will present findings from a research project conducted by researchers at Coventry University’s Centre for Peace and Security, based on the interfaith learning opportunities and activities within religious higher education colleges in Britain. The research is based on a quantitative research survey, undertaken with 437 students at 58 colleges (49 Christian, 9 Muslim) and interview-based case studies carried out at two Muslim and two Christian colleges, with 34 interviews conducted. Spanning the UK Christian and Muslim college sector, the project seeks to answer two questions: 1) what role do Christian and Muslim higher education colleges play in students’ interfaith learning and development? 2) how does students’ interfaith learning develop during their studies at Christian and Muslim higher education colleges? Prof. Kristin Aune will present findings and recommendations for the future of interfaith learning in the religious higher education and contemporary Britain.

Bio

Kristin Aune is Professor of the Sociology of Religion at the Centre for Peace and Security, Coventry University. She has published widely on religion in higher education, and religion and gender, and conducted many externally funded research projects on these topics. Recent publications include the journal articles ‘University chaplaincy as relational presence’ (Journal of College and Character) and ‘Building bridges or holy huddles? Student religious organizations in British universities’ (Journal of Diversity in Higher Education). She is editor of the journal Religion and Gender and co-editor of the book Religion and Higher Education in Europe and North America (Routledge).