Centre for Spirituality and Religion in Education

CSRE is active in the fields of higher and continuing education for professional groups and individuals interested in religion, spirituality, education and society. CSRE is engaged in partnerships within Children's Services in the UEA region in order to promote the transfer of professional and academic expertise in religious education and spiritual development. CSRE is engaged in interdisciplinary partnerships within UEA to develop higher and continuing education for spiritual wellbeing and to support and disseminate research in religious education and spiritual development.

Members of CSRE are actively engaged in developing higher education for interdisciplinary professional practice for spiritual wellbeing; research into children's and young people's spirituality, and religious education in schools; curriculum development and teaching for EDU's initial teacher education programmes in Religious Education, and for EDU's BA in Education Studies, through the module, Spirituality, Education and the Child.

Spirituality - Reflection and Action

An interdisciplinary approach to spirituality in practice
A ONE DAY FORUM FOR CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

23rd July 2013 - 9.30AM - 5.30PM - Queen's Building, UEA
£35.00 (includes lunch and refreshments)

What is spirituality? How might we address our own and others' spirituality? Professionals who work with people are increasingly required to address the spiritual needs of children and adults. In this one day interdisciplinary forum we bring together UEA academics who have an interest in spirituality, and who either work or link with practitioners in different professional fields. A combination of speakers, discussion groups, and experiential activities will offer opportunities for reflection on spirituality and its application to practice.

For more information please contact Dawn Corby (d.corby@uea.ac.uk).
Forum Programme and booking form.

Conference Poster

2013-2014 Issues in Religion and Education Seminar Series

This seminar series aims to bring together scholars from different academic disciplines to discuss issues relating to religion and/or spirituality and education. Through a combination of lectures and informal seminars the series hopes to encourage participants to think more deeply and broadly about the issues involved in their work.

The series aims to be multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, engaging those with national, international, and/or comparative perspectives. It seeks to encourage discussion about the history, politics, pedagogy, experience, advantages, disadvantages, and difficulties involved in the teaching of religion and/or spirituality and of engagement with issues of spirituality/religion and education, broadly defined. It is hoped that, by bringing together people with diverse backgrounds, issues will be illuminated and discussed in ways that bring new insight across subjects and appeal not only to academics and students at UEA but also to members of the local community.

The seminars will be held once a month throughout the academic year, beginning in September 2013. They will bring together individuals from inside and outside UEA and the local area.

If you would like to contribute to the seminar series please contact either Dr Emma Long (AMS) Emma.Long@uea.ac.uk or Dr Jacqueline Watson (EDU) jacqueline.watson@uea.ac.uk.

12th International Conference for Children's Spirituality

In July 2012 the Centre convened the 12th International Conference for Children's Spirituality ‘Spirituality and Physicality: Crossing Thresholds'. Articles related to the conference are now published in a Special Edition of the International Journal of Children's Spirituality, 18.3, 2013, which can be found at: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cijc20/current

Keynote/presentation papers

Online Lectures

Video clips of the Keynote Speaker lectures.

Dr David Brown Keynote Lecture
Dr Peter Campbell with co-presenter John Keane Keynote Lecture We apologise for the visual problems during the first few minutes of this video. This is corrected by the start of the Keynote.

Other events / further information

For further information about CSRE please contact the Centre's (Acting) Director, Dr Jacqueline Watson, at Jacqueline.watson@uea.ac.uk.

Group Members

Jacqueline Watson is (Acting) Director of CSRE. She is Lecturer in Educational Research in EDU. She has a strong interest in research in the fields of education for spiritual development and religious education. She also has a special interest in Humanism in Religious Education.

Linda Rudge

Linda Rudge is a UEA Visiting Fellow and was Director of the Centre for Spirituality and Religion in Education from 1993 until 2012. She is a member of the International Seminar on Religion, Education and Values, and she has research interests in ‘religion amongst the majority', the politics of religion in education and the spiritual dimensions of education.

Kathryn Wright works as a freelance RE Consultant in the Eastern Region for the Diocese of St Albans, Diocese of Norwich, Norfolk County Council and as lead consultant for CPD4RE for Culham St Gabriel's Trust. She creates resources and publications including the Norfolk Agreed Syllabus, leads continuing professional development and working with teachers, governors and pupils to develop innovative practice. She has trained as a Section 48 inspector and as an RE Quality Mark assessor. Kathryn is studying part time for a PhD in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning at UEA, researching pedagogy in religious education.

Centre links

The Centre has been hosted by EDU since 1993 and was originally called the Keswick Hall Religious Education Centre. The Keswick Hall Trust continues to support UEA RE programmes through a regular donation, and through the provision of an annual lecture. The Trust also supports a number of RE teachers undertaking post-graduate research in EDU. Please visit their website for further information and, to apply for grants to support religious education, please contact: admin@keswickhalltrust.org.uk.

If you are interested in distance learning to enhance your subject knowledge for teaching RE, you can find information about the Keswick Hall Trust's Religious Education Bridging Programme at the Keswick Hall Trust Website. Please note that the Trust has one deadline for applications – 31st May each year – and that you have to create an on-line account with them to apply.

CSRE also has strong links with the Farmington Institute and has supervised and supported many practising teachers on Farmington Fellowships. If you are interested in finding out more about how to become a Farmington Fellow please contact CSRE or go to the Farmington Institute website.