Buddhism
Following University restructuring in 2002, Culture was established as one of three Academic Areas within the School of Arts, Design, Media and Culture (ADM&C). The Culture Area includes the following Units of Assessment: English; History; Politics and International Studies; Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies; Tourism (in Sports Related Studies).
In the 2001 RAE, there were 3.2 staff in Religious Studies. Since then, provision in the subject has moved to an exclusively postgraduate coverage that focuses on the strength area of Buddhist Studies (as flagged in 2001 RAE). In 2001, Canon Dr James Francis took early retirement, and Dr Steven Sutcliffe left the University. Dr Ben Dandelion continued to supervise Quaker Studies research students until 2004. Dr Peter Harvey, Professor of Buddhist Studies, remains.
Prof. Harvey has contributed to the national research environment in part through the UK Association for Buddhist Studies. In 1995, he was one of its two founders. UKABS has continued to flourish, having, in 2006, 165 members: 33 members of staff at UK University Religion or Asian Studies Departments, 11 at other UK departments (Philosophy, Psychology, English, Education, Economics), 98 UK research students or independent scholars, 8 members of University Departments in Europe, North America or Asia, and 16 other overseas members. Prof. Harvey was secretary of the Association till 2002, then its President till 2006, then editor of its journal. From 2006 the journal: Buddhist Studies Review, came to be commercially produced by Equinox publishers along with expanding its editorial board and adding an international advisory board. The journal has two issues per year, totaling 270 pages, and in 2006-07 attracted papers from Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada and Europe, as well as the UK. Prof. Harvey runs the UKABS e-mail news list and website; he also handles unsolicited enquiries from scholars, the public and the media.
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