AMOSSHE: Annual Conference 2009

July 2009

Student Services Don’t ‘Do God’: Discuss

If God walked into your assessment centre, what needs would you determine he/she had?  This was one of many probing questions posed to a chaplain, an imam, a student union director and a director of student services at the AMOSSHE annual conference in Belfast last week.

In a Question Time style debate, the panel talked frankly about the relationship between religion and student services.  A student’s faith can shape their student learning experience dramatically.  AMOSSHE members explored how to best work with this to ensure free and open debate, and a positive student experience.  The panel welcomed the recognition of religion as a positive part of the student experience.  All too often negative assumptions are made about students because of their religion, including assumptions about violence and terrorism.  Religious tensions and counter terrorism issues are different, and we should avoid assuming any automatic interrelationship between the two.

The panel discussed the faith based approach to revealed truth, and the role that universities have in pushing the boundaries of knowledge.  Debates also explored communications around the issues of religion and community, and how universities might respond to cults and sects.  This cemented the topics discussed in the two day conference exploring student services’ role in issues of community, identity and place.

AMOSSHE members can access conference materials, including presentations and notes from the Question Time session, in the members' area of the website.

For further information on this or any of AMOSSHE’s work, please contact Raegan Hiles, Policy and Public Affairs Manager on r.hiles@ammoshe.org.uk or 0207 133 2691.