Making a date with faith

A new briefing examining how higher education institutions are reconciling religious observance with academic and management responsibilities has been produced by the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) which promotes equality for staff and students in the higher education sector.

Religious observance in higher education: institutional timetabling and work patterns looks at issues such as timetabling for students and work patterns for staff incorporating faith calendars, understanding religious observance on campus and communication issues.

According to the ECU: “The local, regional, national and increasingly international reach of many higher education institutions means that campuses reflect a diversity of religions and beliefs.”

It says that while for many staff and students, religious beliefs are accommodated within existing institutional practices, for others there is potential for institutional practices to conflict with religious beliefs. This could include “exams being held on holy days, or staff requesting time for prayers.”

The briefing points out that effective communication with staff and students will help determine the different religious practices in their own particular institution. And planning is necessary to ensure that different religious practices, “as well as the equally legitimate expectations of those with no religious observance,” are represented.

The briefing can be downloaded from: www.ecu.ac.uk/publications/religious-obs-timetabling