from Religion Media Centre
Academics considering the decline of Theology and Religious studies at British universities have been challenged to dispel the myths that courses are predominantly Christian and of no value to students in the jobs market.
A Religion Media Centre briefing was told that the number of British universities offering single-honours Theology and Religious Studies degrees in UK universities has fallen to just 21, driven by financial pressures and falling student demand. Departments have been closed, merged, and subject to redundancies.
The issue has been highlighted by the Theos think tank in an open letter. The briefing heard that the decline is mainly down to financial pressure, with universities facing deficits and favouring subjects with higher student numbers and therefore income from fees. But its status as a challenging liberal arts degree, the wide variety of topics covered, the interdisciplinary connections and the merits of applying the knowledge in a diverse society, are not understood well enough by parents, students or teachers who guide the sixth formers to university. Speakers included Dr Tim Hutchings, Prof Mathew Guest, Dr Suzanne Owen, Dr Roberto Catello, Prof Chris Higgins, Prof Gordon Lynch, Sarah Lane Cawte and Deborah Weston.
View or listen to the discussion again via links on or website here.