Sociology in the World
Sociology has never been an 'ivory tower' discipline. Throughout its history sociology's practitioners have sought to describe, interpret and understand the social world, often in order to change it. Research and teaching are often motivated by the desire to improve the conditions of life and society, meaning continual engagement beyond the walls of the academy.
Our degree programmes are designed to enable students to develop vital skills in independent learning, critical thinking and lucid communication as well as to offer a solid base of knowledge about the social world. We believe that whatever walk of life our students choose, these skills and knowledge will allow them to engage successfully with the challenging issues of the day; their sociological training is a benefit both to their life chances and to those who benefit from their work.
Our research projects work with a variety of stakeholders, within and beyond the academy, from conception to completion. We seek out colleagues in other disciplines, or partners from business, government and civil society, to inform our decisions and priorities to make our research relevant and useful to non-specialists. In the research process – our core business of 'finding things out' – we listen to the widest possible group of citizens from all parts of society, in the UK and abroad. We communicate the results of our research through academic publications, and we also strive to communicate findings to a much wider public, through engaging with stakeholders, policy makers, the media and, of course, our students.
These webpages are being developed to highlight some of the ways that sociologists, both as staff and students, reach beyond the discipline and engage with social life. Check back soon to see some examples. We hope this information will help readers understand the purpose and achievements of sociological work and inspire further engagement with wider communities.