Religion and Higher Education in Europe and North America

Religion and Higher Education in Europe and North America illuminates experiences of staff and students in higher education as they negotiate the university environment. Religious extremism has been rising across Europe, whilst recent attacks have thrown public debate around the place of religion on campus, the role of universities in recognising and managing religious fundamentalism and freedom of speech on campus into sharper focus.

Despite these debates, research exploring religion on campus has been largely absent from discourse on higher education outside of America, with policy and practices designed to deal with religion on campus largely founded on supposition rather than evidence. This book speaks into that void, including results from recent studies in the field which form an empirically grounded base from a broad variety of perspectives on religion at universities. As an attempt to offer a deeper perspective, more dialogue, and engagement on the experiences of students, Religion and Higher Education in Europe and North America presents us not only with an opportunity to counter growing trends of intolerance, but for people to connect with the humanity of others.

Focusing on what research can portray about staff and students’ experiences, it incorporates research from different academic disciplines including sociology, education, social policy, theology and religious studies, and across different faith and belief groups. This thought-provoking and challenging volume features chapters written by researchers involved in informing policy and practice relating to religion and belief in higher education in the UK, US, Canada, France and the Netherlands . Spanning the academic-practitioner divide, students and academics interested in the sociology of religion and of higher education, as well as those responsible for the practical management of campus life, will find this text of particular importance.

Kristin Aune is a research fellow at Coventry University, having previously taught on sociology and youth work and theology programmes at the University of Westminster, Ridley Hall Cambridge and the University of Derby.

Jacqueline Stevenson is Professor of Education Research and Head of Research at?Sheffield Hallam University,?she is also?a member of both the Governing Council and Research & Development Committee of the Society for Research into Higher Education, as well as co-convenor of their Access and Widening Participation network.