Conveners
Roberta Ricucci, University of Turin
roberta.ricucci@unito.it
Minoo Mirshahvalad, University of Copenhagen
mmi@hum.ku.dk
This session aims to bring together scholars from sociology, anthropology, religious studies, education, and related fields who have conducted qualitative research on transnational religious educational institutions across Europe. The objective is to explore the factors that influence the study and teaching practices of religions within these diverse educational settings, examining their broader implications in the European context.
Transnational religious education in Europe exists within a complex landscape of integration and differentiation. These institutions strive to align with European social and legal frameworks while maintaining their unique cultural identities (Maussen, Bader, 2014; Flint, 2007; Bader, Maussen, 2012; Glenn, 2012a; 2012b; Hand, 2012; Merry, 2015; Olsen, 2015; Scheupflug, 2015; Maréchal et al., 2003).
This session invites scholars to contribute ethnographic insights that enhance our understanding of these questions and offer a nuanced analysis of the role and future of transnational education in Europe. By examining these issues, the session aims to contribute to broader discussions on the integration and transformation of educational practices within the diverse and dynamic landscape of contemporary Europe.
Open questions
- How do the socio-political contexts of European countries shape the curricula and pedagogical approaches of various transnational educational institutions that offer religious disciplines?
- In what ways do educators negotiate between traditional teachings and the demands of contemporary European societies?
- How do students and educators perceive their roles within both their specific communities and the broader European context?
- What challenges and opportunities do transnational educational institutions face in preserving cultural identities while adapting to European legal and educational standards?
- How does studying religions in a European context influence the identities and practices of students across different educational backgrounds?
Keywords
religions; Europe; teaching; education; intercultural relations.
Sub-disciplines or cross-disciplinary areas of concern
religious education; sociology of religion; sociology of education; gender studies; cultural anthropology; linguistic anthropology.
References
Bader, V., Maussen, M.
2012 «Religious Schools and Tolerance», in M. Maussen, V. Bader (Eds.), Tolerance and Cultural Diversity in Schools: Comparative Report, Accept Pluralism, Working Paper, pp. 87-107.
Flint, J.
2007 «Faith Schools, Multiculturalism and Community Cohesion: Muslim and Roman Catholic State Schools in England and Scotland», in Policy and Politics, 35, 2, pp. 251-268.
Glenn, C.L.
2012a «State and Schools: A Historical Overview», in C.L. Glenn, J. de Groof (Eds.), Balancing Freedom, Autonomy and Accountability, vol.1. Nijmegen: Wolf Legal, pp. 3-24.
2012b «Germany», in C.L. Glenn, J. de Groof (Eds.), Balancing Freedom, Autonomy and Accountability, vol. 2. Nijmegen: Wolf Legal, pp. 209-228.
Hand, M.
2012 «A New Dawn for Faith-based Education? Opportunities for Religious Organisations in the UK’s New School System», in Journal of Philosophy of Education, 46, 4, pp. 546-559.
Maréchal, B., Allievi, S., Dassetto, F., Nielsen, J.
2003 Muslims in the Enlarged Europe: Religion and Society, Leiden and Boston: Brill.
Maussen, M., Bader, V.
2014 «Non-governmental religious schools in Europe: institutional opportunities, associational freedom, and contemporary challenges», in Comparative Education, 51, 1, pp. 1-21.
Mery, M.
2015 «The Conundrum of Religious Schools in Twenty-First Century Europe», in Comparative Education, 51, 1, pp. 133-156.
Olsen, T.V.
2015 «The Danish Free School Tradition Under Pressure», in Comparative Education, 51, 1, pp. 22-37.
Scheupflug, A.
2015 «Non-governmental Religious Schools in Germany: Interesting Demand by Decreasing Religiousity?», in Comparative Education, 51, 1, pp. 38-56.
Convenors’ bios
Roberta Ricucci is Full Professor of Sociology of Migration and Sociology of Islam at the University of Turin. Her research fields deal with youth, and religious pluralism in migratory processes. Strongly involved in various worldwide scientific associations, she has been past chair of the Sociology of Religion stream in the European Sociological Association.
Minoo Mirshahvalad is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen. Her publications span the fields of sociology of Islam and migration studies. She has been so far involved in European projects at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and University of Pisa.