The launch of a major new publication was the highlight of the second UJIA conference on research in UK Jewish education.

UJIA research director Helena Miller is the senior editor of the International Handbook on Jewish Education, which spans more than 1,300 pages in two volumes.

"It's the first time that any serious contemporary book on Jewish education has come out of the UK," Dr Miller said.

Leo Baeck College vice-principal Michael Shire and Limmud director Raymond Simonson have also contributed chapters.

Conference topics ranged from educational questions raised by last year's Institute of Jewish Policy Research survey on attitudes to Israel to the impact of development aid charity Tzedek's work in schools and chedarim.

The conference is a sign of growing professionalism in the expanding educational network.

Doctors Miller and Shire were once the only two home-grown professionals with a doctorate in Jewish education. But now "seven of the people at the conference are working on PhDs in Jewish education, which is amazing".