He held Visiting Fellowships in Religions and Education at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, in Autumn 1974 and Spring 1978, the first leading to the publication of Perspectives on World Religions,[2] and the second to a series of BBC Education broadcasts on rites of passage experienced by members of religious communities in Britain.

Jackson was invited to become a member of the Steering Committee of ‘Religion and Society’ (2007–2012),[8] an extensive UK research programme, taking a particular interest in projects concerned with education and youth, leading to the publication of a special issue of the Journal of Beliefs and Values in 2012, and a book co-edited with Elisabeth Arweck.

[12] Jackson has continued to argue that an open and inclusive study of religions and other worldviews in state funded schools is intrinsic to a broadly based liberal education, while also contributing instrumentally to the personal development of students and to social aims, such as fostering appreciation for the human rights principle freedom of religion and belief.

[18] Jackson's work on families of religious minorities attracted the attention of BBC Education producers Ralph Rolls and Geoffrey Marshall-Taylor, and they invited him to make radio and radiovision programmes for school students of various ages, using actuality material and interviews.

[21] Jackson extended Hull's policy of enhancing the academic status of the journal, including increasing its international profile, setting up editorial and international advisory boards, taking the journal to a commercial publisher, and gaining its inclusion in the Thomson Reuter citation index.

Jackson held a Visiting Professorship at Oslo University College (2009–2012) in order to take on the role of Special Adviser on religious diversity and education at the European Wergeland Centre.

[34] Jackson also contributed to the Toledo Guiding Principles on Teaching about Religions and Beliefs in Public Schools, published by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

[35] Beyond his work in Europe, Jackson has contributed to discussions on the place of the study of religions in education in countries including the US,[36] Canada,[37] Japan,[38] South Africa,[39] and Australia.

[34] In November 2013, he became the 12th recipient of the William Rainey Harper Award from the Religious Education Association of the US and Canada, joining the ranks of Paulo Freire, Margaret Mead and Marshall McLuhan.

[43] A group of Jackson's former doctoral students produced a special issue of the American journal Religion & Education (vol 40, no.

[44] In March 2017, Jackson was awarded an honorary doctorate (Doc h.c.) By the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for his contribution to religious and intercultural education in Norway and internationally, including his work for the Council of Europe.

[45] In October 2017, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Norwegian School of Theology (MF) in Oslo for his contributions to education in Norway and internationally.

Jackson proposed trumpet player, bandleader, broadcaster and writer, Humphrey Lyttelton for an honorary doctorate at the University of Warwick, which was awarded in 1987.