As a result of the decision of the University of Wales to cease validating institutions and its present downsizing, at IBTS we have been working hard at building new partnerships to replace this defunct collaboration with a once-great federal University.
Parush, Lina, Lydie and Tim have worked incredibly hard to “give flesh” to the relationship with the VU University in Amsterdam for our doctoral programme and with the University of Manchester for the MA in Baptistic Histories and Theologies.
Last week I accompanied Lina to the Religions & Theology Academic Panel which is a meeting of academics from the Department of Religions & Theology and the theological college partners (Nazarene Theological College; Cliff College; Luther King House Educational Trust; Spurgeon’s College and IBTS). Lina presented various changes to our MA programme to allow for a Postgraduate Certificate and a Postgraduate Diploma. The Chair of the Academic Panel commended Lina on the high quality of the materials submitted and suggested it might serve as a model for others !
IBTS has been exceptionally blessed to have two outstanding Academic Deans in succession – Parush and Lina – as we have steered through the trials of changing our validation and academic credentials. The whole EBF family should be very thankful to them for their outstanding and sterling work !
– Keith