NICER is a University Research Centre. It undertakes research to inform the contribution of faith to the public understanding of education, to aid the mission of Church schools and education in Church communities, to develop and improve religion and worldview education and to support the work of Christians in education.
We use qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research approaches in that work and have developed novel approaches to investigating school ethos, character and curriculum in Christian schooling. We receive funds from charities and other grant-making research bodies for our work, supported by the University’s commitment to the centre.
We collaborate with colleagues from across our university and also with specialists from other leading universities and research centres from around the world. We act as a hub to promote international Christian education research at the highest level, through seminars and conferences.
A key part of our work is in encouraging Christian education leaders in doctoral research to bring together the insights of the professional and the quality of doctoral-level study. Our University offers doctoral scholarships in this area.
Micro project resource for Cultivating Deeper Interdisciplinary Dialogue
Wednesday June 25, 2025
Dr Mary Woolley writes: In late June 2025 we had the pleasure of visiting a school in south Wales and launching our micro-project for Cultivating Deeper Interdisciplinary Dialogue. This consisted of recording […]
Disagreeing well in the ethics classroom of a Christian institution: Ethical pedagogy and the ethical gymnasium
Wednesday January 29, 2025
A short reflection given to the Colleges & Universities of the Anglican Communion, at CUAC’s Online Seminar XI: Learning to ‘Disagree Well’ given on Wednesday, 29th January 2025, 12-1.30 by […]
Beth mae’r arolwg hwn yn ei olygu? Deialog athro-athro?
Tuesday January 21, 2025
Gan Dr Mary Woolley, Prif Ymchwilydd, Meithrin Deialog Rhyngddisgyblaethol Dyfnach Ym mis Ionawr 2025 rydym yn lansio arolwg o athrawon uwchradd ledled Cymru fel rhan gyntaf ein prosiect a ariennir […]
CUAC’s Online Seminar XI: Learning to ‘Disagree Well’
Friday January 17, 2025
Colleges & Universities of the Anglican Communion CUAC’s Online Seminar XI: Learning to ‘Disagree Well’ Wednesday, 29th January 2025, 12-1.30 We live in a world of increasingly polarized views where […]
What’s this survey all about? Teacher-teacher dialogue?
Thursday January 16, 2025
By Dr Mary Woolley, Principal Investigator, Cultivating Deeper Interdisciplinary Dialogue In January 2025 we launch a survey of secondary teachers across Wales as the first part of our TWCF-funded project, […]
Survey launches for secondary school teachers across Wales
Tuesday January 14, 2025
We (Cardiff Met and CCCU) have launched a survey for secondary school teachers across Wales as part of our current TWCF-funded project, Cultivating Deeper Interdisciplinary Dialogue. We’re interested in the […]
New Year Message: A year of renewed research interest in faith and education?
Thursday January 09, 2025
Academics at Glasgow university (Bornean, McMahon and Coll) recently published a thematic analysis and review of the Education Research submission (REF 2021 UoA23 for those in the know) in the […]
NICER News December 2024
Thursday December 12, 2024
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The […]
Collaboration
Wednesday December 11, 2024
Working Group 3 is focussed on the objectives (1) To investigate the relationships between Religious Education (RE), spirituality , wellbeing and inclusion (3) To evaluate how the schools’ curriculum is […]
Cultivating Climate Conversations: Our Experience in a Climate Escape Room
Friday November 29, 2024
Recently, four members of the Cultivating Deeper Interdisciplinary Dialogue research team (Mary, Bob, Katie, and Emily) stepped out of their usual academic roles and into a Climate Escape Room challenge. […]