Training, skills and methods

University of Cambridge researchers are constantly developing and refining methods, tools and approaches in response to contemporary issues.

As part of our Knowledge Hub work, we support researchers to identify appropriate partner organisations and opportunities to support this important work.

Depending on the research approach and the stage of development, opportunities can involve co-design and co-production, as well as trials and beta-testing. 

We harness the most effective approaches within the Cambridge Interfaith Programme’s regular work. We also work with other Cambridge bodies to explore appropriate ways to scale up and share skills and insight, whether through training, licensing, or bespoke workshops.

If you or your organisation would be interested in participating in a pilot, or you have suggestions for a new area of skill-building, we welcome expressions of interest.

Case study | ABC

Anthropology By Children/Communities (ABC) is a creative citizen science-style approach to Pupil Voice, the agenda which aims to document and represent young student voices in decision-making about them. Developed and trialed by Dr Kelly Fagan Robinson alongside teachers and children since 2021, ABC draws lessons from Participant Action Research in which interlocutors not only lead data collection but also drive analytic categories through their engagement, supporting children and young people’s legibility to educators, their families and their surrounding communities.

The approach has been tested with communities in Nepal, Italy, and Cambridgeshire. Licensing options are under exploration.

Case study | Islamic Educator Learning Community

IELC is a learning community of Islamic educators (anyone working in or teaching Muslim learners aged from 3-18 years). Founder Dr Farah Ahmed (Education) and colleagues have created an online platform designed to facilitate exchange between Islamic scholarship, educational research and Islamic educational settings.

IELC supports teachers and educators to engage in reflective practice and conduct their own classroom research inquiries, in order to improve learning. Hosted by Camtree (the Cambridge Teacher Research Exchange), IELC is also a project of Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation.

Case study | Moonsighters Academy

With the support of the UKRI Science & Technology Facilities Council, Cambridge Divinity PhD student Imad Ahmed is working with asronomers at Cambridge and Leeds to co-design training for Muslim community leaders. The course will equip British Muslims to co-create a shared lunar calendar, rather than relying on conflicting calendars from other countries.