Research Assistant (Islam and Higher Education)

(0.2FTE) Fixed Term (1 August 2023 – 31 March 2025)

Coventry University Group is a global education group with a mission of Creating Better Futures. Driven by our passion and belief that through education, equity, and innovation our students, people, and communities are empowered to transform their lives and the world around them.

Coventry University’s Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR) is a multi-disciplinary research centre that tackles many of the most critical and sensitive contemporary challenges facing society. We have more than 90 staff members and more than 50 PhD students conducting research around the world.

As part of the Interfaith Learning in Christian and Muslim Higher Education colleges project, which is funded by the Sir Halley Stewart Trust, we are recruiting a Research Assistant in Islam and Higher Education.

The Role: Research Assistant (Islam and Higher Education)

Main Duties

This role will support the research activities of the Interfaith Learning in Christian and Muslim Higher Education colleges project. It is a 20 month, mixed methods research project spanning the UK Christian and Muslim college sector. This project aims to understand how students at UK Christian and Muslim HE colleges make sense of religious diversity. It will be the first research project of its kind to examine how different UK religious college climates enable or impede positive attitudes towards those of different faiths and worldview perspectives.

The role will join the project team consisting of Professor Kristin Aune, Dr Sariya Cheruvallil Contractor and Dr Lucy Peacock. Under line management supervision and guidance of Professor Aune, this role will support Dr Peacock, primarily to assist with the survey administration, collect and analyse data from two Muslim HE college case study sites and contribute to project outcomes. The Research Assistant will have Islamic studies expertise and knowledge of British Muslim communities.

Our ideal candidate

You will have experience working in Muslim contexts (in Britain or elsewhere) and knowledge of Islamic Studies. You will have expertise of undertaking research in the areas of Islamic Studies, British Muslim Studies, Interfaith Relations and other cognate areas. Experience of undertaking academic research as part of a team would be desirable.

You will also have:

• Qualitative research skills particularly in undertaking interviews and case study work
• Quantitative research experience of designing and implementing a survey (desirable)
• Experience of writing academic outputs
• Experience of supporting the development and implementation of impact activities

Benefits

We offer an industry leading rewards and benefits package that includes a generous pension scheme, 30 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, a range of discounts across the High Street and online retailers and so much more!