Professor Robert Jackson Honorary Doctorate Norwegian School of Theology

Professor Robert Jackson has received an honorary doctorate from the Norwegian School of Theology in Oslo on 21^st October. Professor Jackson is an Emeritus Professor in the Centre for Education Studies at Warwick, former Director of Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit, which he founded in 1994 (and in which he remains active), and currently Visiting Professor in Education at Stockholm University. The degree was awarded to Professor Jackson for his contributions to the development of religious education in Norway, and for his international work in this field, including developing research links between Warwick and Scandinavian universities.

MF Norwegian School of Theology (founded 1908) is an accredited Specialized University focusing on Theology, Religion, and Social Studies, located in Oslo, and is Norway’s largest University dealing with theology, studies of religions and social sciences. With three departments (the Department of Theology, the Department of Religious Education and Pedagogical Studies, and the Department of Religion and Society), MF educates scholars, teachers, ministers, and other professionals at undergraduate and postgraduate levels for leadership and service both nationally and internationally.

Professor Linda Woodhead of Lancaster University also received an honorary doctorate at the same ceremony. Professor Woodhead led the Religion and Society Programme, Britain’s largest research programme in the field (with over 75 research projects), funded jointly by the AHRC and ESRC. Professor Jackson was on the Steering Committee of the programme and co-ordinated the research projects concerned with religion and education, as well as leading Warwick’s own project on Young People’s Attitudes to Religious Diversity. The findings of the Warwick Diversity project were published this year (E. Arweck [ed.] Young People’s Attitudes to Religious Diversity, London: Routledge 2017).

Professor Jackson was also awarded an honorary doctorate by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in March 2017 for his contributions to European research and policy development related to the religious dimension of intercultural education, associated with the Council of Europe, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations programme.