Religion in Britain: Challenges in Higher Education

Ethnic diversity in the student population is increasing and although universities are secular institutions accommodating different religious interests is becoming a prominent issue on campuses. Universities are often unprepared for the tensions that arise when expectations of the “other” are not understood or conflict with institutional priorities. Tensions may be exacerbated by public anxiety about extremism and unbalanced news stories, which threaten respect and mutual understanding. This Leadership Insight paper has important implications for governance and leadership and raises practical questions.