The RJ Thompson Centre is a significant part of Carey’s DNA and is named for Dr. RJ Thompson, a previous principal of the college and theological scholar. The Centre has several key functions:
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Encouraging postgraduate study
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Linking Carey with Laidlaw College through the Laidlaw-Carey Graduate School (LCGS) relationship.
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Encouraging staff publications and overseeing performance based research funding (PBRF) results
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Facilitating theological dialogue through seminars, mini-conferences, visiting lecturers, book launches, and other such means.
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Linking Carey with Auckland University of Technology to supervise MPhil and PhD studies.
The Centre is involved in strengthening ties with LCGS through regular postgraduate and staff seminars, PhD lunches, encouraging and informing potential students about postgraduate research, and running various conferences.
The Performance Based Research Fund initiated by the government also looms large on the horizon as staff research, write, and publish various academic articles and books which will form the basis of our research rating and funding in 2012. In the first two such rounds Carey was the highest performing non-university in the country. We are doing all we can to maintain this position in 2012.
Carey and LCGS also have an agreement with AUT to sponsor students and supervise MPhil and PhD theses in all areas of biblical, theological, and applied theology. There is also increased potential for students to conduct interdisciplinary research through this relationship. In 2009 a number of new PhD students were admitted into this programme and we look forward to seeing many more in the future.
There is a growing number of Carey-based masters and doctoral students plus some staff initiating and completing doctoral studies. This means a thriving research environment as we equip people for the task of ministry and mission in our world. With God’s continued blessing we aim to further our commitment to academic excellence and discipleship.
Carey has a well qualified staff to supervise Masters and Doctoral theses in all disciples from biblical studies, theology, history, to applied and practical theology. A number of staff are currently looking for very good research students in several areas so please feel free to contact staff directly with research interests.
The current Director of the Centre is Dr Myk Habets (PhD), a systematic theologian, lecturer and author. Dr Habets is very happy to talk over post graduate options with prospective students, please make an appointment with him [DD 09 5266599, myk.habets@carey.ac.nz].
Laidlaw-Carey Graduate School
Laidlaw-Carey Graduate School is a partnership between Laidlaw and Carey Baptist Colleges. Its mission is to provide advanced theological studies with an applied edge. The faculty consists of internationally recognised scholars from the evangelical community in New Zealand and worldwide.
Laidlaw-Carey Graduate School offers taught postgraduate courses, research masters degrees and supervision in doctoral studies such as the PhD or the Doctor of Ministries. Carey graduates seeking further study immediately or wanting to return to study will find a natural progression into these programmes.
Further details are available in the Laidlaw-Carey Graduate School Handbook, the website http://www.laidlaw-carey.ac.nz/ or from the Dean of the School ph. 09 836 7800
