The past 12 months have seen issues around faith in universities and campus relations propelled to the top of the political agenda. Not a week goes by without a news story on the subject or some new conflict between groups of people within our campus communities, says Gemma Tumelty.
On Friday I will address a Universities UK conference to discuss ways in which we can share best practice to strengthen relations between faith groups in our universities. I will say that students' unions are at the forefront of efforts to promote better relations.
I am proud of the role the NUS plays in mediating and brokering relationships between students' unions and religious groups. More importantly, I am proud of the work students' unions do, day in and day out, to support faith-based student groups, and of the measured role that those unions have played in stopping tension on our campuses. They have been champions of the type of cohesion we want to see.
Students' unions have played a vital role over many years in fostering an environment where students can learn about different cultures and faiths. It is students' unions that have intervened in situations of dispute and tension. The challenge now will be to ensure that, as well as communicating with different groups, we ensure that there is also intercommunication between them.
We must find a way to encourage cohesion across differing faith groups, and to develop organic university communities. Each of these communities must be focused on a shared understanding and a common agenda around quality education - with learning, teaching and research at its centre.
Every student must have a place within the campus community, as well as within the many other communities to which they belong.
Students' unions have one of the best foundations for creating and innovating best practice for developing inter-faith relations, and we intend to build on these.
What we need is faith in us.
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