Application Enquiries to: Fiona Mackinlay
Project Supervisor(s): Dr R Davis
Application Deadline: 07 October 2005
Funding is available to students Worldwide

This proposal is for a dual-approach to the study of faith-basedschools. The first part is concerned to develop a conceptual framefor understanding the nature and place of otherness in the faith-based school in the context of a late-industrial plural democraticsociety. The expansion of faith-based schools in England and Walesand their obdurate endurance in Scotland appears, in part at least,to be predicated on the claim that they offer a more academicallysuccessful (though not in every case) education than mainstream non-religious schools with similar demographies. But such schoolsrepresent a somewhat contentious presence given the manifold claimsof a variety of liberal secularists that they are, at best asprivate, obsolete and irrelevant and, at worst, the cause ofsubstantial social, cultural and religious division (2004, Bruce2002, Grayling 2001, Wheatcroft) This second is the most importanthere as we would wish to explore whether or not hospitality to theother represents a more substantial normative claim on faith-basedschools than secular or non-religious schools.

Once we have conducted the conceptual study, drawing on bothofficial or canonical texts and theological texts (what the thinkerswithin particular traditions say) we will then establish a nationalempirical study looking at the ways in which different faith-basedschools (Christian, Jewish, Muslim) in different locations (innercity, sub-urban, rural) are or are not hospitable to otherness. Thestudy would look at not only the claims and social practices infaith-based schools but also the materials used in the study ofreligious and cultural issues in the school. This study will looknot only at Scotland but will embrace schools in England and Wales.

If you would like to discuss this opportunity further with Dr BobDavis please contact him via e-mail at R.Davis@educ.gla.ac.uk

Applications are invited for this full-time postgraduate studentshipin the Faculty of Education for three years from Session 2005/06.The studentship covers the cost of home tuition fees and offers anannual maintenance grant of �9,000.

Further details of application procedures are available at:http://www.gla.ac.uk/faculties/education/research/studentship/studentship.html

Applications in writing should be sent to:Postgraduate Studentship Award,
c/o Ms Fiona Mackinlay, Research
Administrator, Faculty of Education,
University of Glasgow, Room425D,
St. Andrew’s Building, 11 Eldon Street, Glasgow, G3 6NH.