A crackdown on censorship at U.K. universities is about to begin as the Government’s free speech Tsar gets to work bringing in a new complaints system and guidance, backed up by law. Arif Ahmed, the Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom at the Office for Students, has written about the coming changes in the Telegraph.
One in seven students does not feel free to express their views on campus. Studies have shown more than 30% of academics self-censoring – about twice the rate of most European countries. And the U.K. has slipped to about 60th place in the global Academic Freedom Index. We know there is a problem with free speech in English higher education.
Changes are coming to how it is protected. Following new legislation, the Office for Students (OfS) – the independent regulator of higher education in England – will launch a new complaints scheme.
The scheme will be free to use for students, staff at universities and visiting speakers who believe that their free speech rights have been constrained. Only lawful free speech is protected. So speech which incites violence, or racial hatred, or is otherwise illegal, is not protected. But there is no protection in law from feeling offended. Indeed, an effective higher education includes exposure to views which are unpopular and difficult.
This week the OfS has published draft guidance to help universities, colleges and students’ unions to navigate their responsibilities under the new legislation. It includes hypothetical examples to show these organisations both where free speech might have been constrained and what they may have to do to secure it.
The examples cover various issues – from global politics, to gender, to relationships with overseas regimes that may undermine free speech in English higher education.
We outline, in particular, an example where a university accepts international students on visiting scholarships funded by a foreign government. The scholars must accept the principles of that government and receive direction from it via consular staff. Such an arrangement may undermine free speech and academic freedom at the university. We will consider each case on its facts, but if there is suppression of free speech or academic freedom within the law, the university would likely be required to change or terminate this scholarship agreement.
Worth reading in full.
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