Centre for Academic Teacher Training

The Centre for Academic Teacher's Training in Religion is doing research on pedagogy and didactics of religion and on the identity of the school from a catholic perspective. The research is on master's level, doctoral level and postdoctoral level and is fundamental, empirical and practical. The Centre organises the teacher's training in religion for the students of the Faulty of Theology and Religious Studies of the KU Leuven.

The research are based on the hermeneutical-communicative model of religious education and on interreligious learning. The Centre offers service to church and society, especially in the form of Thomas (a website for religious education: www.godsdienstonderwijs.be) and the development of manuals for religious education (Caleidoscoop & Land in Zicht). The recent research of the Centre is directed towards the development of new empirical and practical-theological instruments for assessing and enhancing the identity of catholic schools. The Centre is known for its initation of the concept of 'catholic dialogue schools' in Flanders and other parts of the world. Latest projects are on deredicalisation by moslim counter narratives, enhancing catholic dialgoue schools and the actualisation of the curricula for RE in Flanders.

Important websites:

https://www.kuleuven.be/thomas/page/home/1/

http://www.schoolidentity.net/introduction/

https://www.kuleuven.be/thomas/page/dialoogschool/

https://theo.kuleuven.be/en/research/centres/centr_alo

http://www.didierpollefeyt.be/publications/