Department Projects

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding organisation for research and innovation networks funded by the European Commission. Its actions help to link research initiatives across Europe and beyond, enabling researchers and innovators to develop their ideas in any field of science and technology by sharing them with their peers. COST Actions are research networks with a duration of four years that support the research, innovation and careers of members of international teams.

Action number: CA23120

Name of Action: Religious Identity, Bullying and Wellbeing at School: A Transnational Collaboration (ORBIT)  

MoU - 033/24

CSO Approval date - 17/05/2024

Start of Action - 14/10/2024

End of Action - 13/10/2028

This COST Action delves into the correlation between religious identity, bullying, and wellbeing, and the implications for students, school communities, and European societies. lt provides a conduit for researchers, policy makers, and educators to consider the relationship between religious identity, wellbeing and inclusion. The main aim and objective of the Action is to advance collaboration between stakeholders to evolve and improve scientific measures and guides, building capacity across these challenged areas, working holistically towards ensuring inclusion, reducing bullying and enhancing the safety and wellbeing of students from all religious identities, aiding in the social stability of both the individual and society. 

Objectives: (1) Ascertain at a national and local level among partner states what religions are being practiced, and what (potential) religious tensions and conflicts exist in that country (2) Examine the prevalence of religious based bullying in schools (3) Examine policies and practices for schools to deal with diversity and integration, with a particular focus on religion and religious ethos; Tasks: (i) collate evidence of the presence of different religious communities across partner countries and salient issues arising (ii) gather and assess evidence of best practice on how schools cope with religious diversity; (iii) collate evidence on the prevalence of religious-based bullying in schools; (iv) collate current interventions/tools to tackle religious -based school bullying.

Objectives: (1) Identify the relationships between the use of social media, AI, and metaverse, and the overall wellbeing of students in different European regions with different cultures (2) Examine the ways these technologies might exacerbate or mitigate bullying incidents in school environments, particularly in the context of religious identity (3) Propose feasible, insightful, and effective strategies to use these technologies for promoting tolerance, inclusivity, and wellbeing in schools. Tasks: (i) investigate the connection among technology usage, religion and wellbeing at school, by conducting a literature review and collecting new data; (ii) disseminate findings at relevant scientific events and platforms; (iii) draft policy recommendation document.

To be announced.