Spotlight on Urban Theology Union

Responding and adapting PhD provision at UTU in light of Covid-19

The Urban Theology Union are based at Victoria Hall Sheffield 

From a company providing conference call software I had never heard of to being the most frequently accessed tab on my tool bar, Zoom (other providers are available) has transformed the way we work, learn, teach and provide supervision for our PhD team of staff and students.

From the beginning of April we began weekly Monday coffee mornings to enable our students to connect with one another, and provide support and accountability for research and writing. Rather than becoming isolated and detached from one another while we could not meet in the building, these weekly drop-in gathering have been a place to keep in touch about university processes and the progress of individual students’ research and writing. It was great to be able to stand alongside a student as he prepared for his online viva, and to be able to congratulate him on his success. In May supervision and peer review were all online as well as annual and mid-year reviews at Luther King House.

As restrictions lifted and risk assessments were complete at Victoria Hall, both of the PhD groups were able to meet in the building in September, and we offer huge thanks to the team at the Foundry working with the trustees and our administrator Jill to get everything ready. There was a sense of joy as we saw each other face to face and we were able to provide online provision for those unable to travel. This hybrid model of offline and online teaching and learning is likely to be the case for some time to come, with the flexibility of being able to move quickly in response to changing government guidance.

With new restrictions from the first week in November, we have yet to decide what form our next sessions will take but the ongoing teaching, supervision, encouragement and support for our students will continue both formally and informally.

Four of our students are now in the process of completing full drafts of their thesis and will be joined by three others as we create one PhD group.

The forming of one group, which has happened naturally online since March allows our students working towards completion to have new insights and reflections from newer students. Newer students are able to learn from the experience and wisdom of those further along the research journey.

As ever, grateful thanks to all our students and supervisors, not forgetting the teaching and admin staff at Luther King House for their willingness to respond and adapt so well and quickly in these strange days.

Christine Dutton

November 2020