The Office for Students (OfS) will draw up a statement of expectations to ensure that arrangements between higher education institutions and foreign states meet freedom of speech and academic freedom requirements.
A working group will provide input as the OfS develops the statement of expectations, which will focus on the contracts and arrangements institutions have with foreign states and institutions in other countries. The working group will include affected students and their representatives, leaders of institutions, and academic staff with expertise in foreign interference. Bodies representing the higher education sector and interest groups with experience of these issues will also be invited.
Today’s announcement follows a briefing for university leaders organised by ministers in February, as well as a series of roundtable events which have explored the scale of the problem, and the fundamental need to ensure academic freedom is upheld at universities and colleges.
Commenting, Arif Ahmed, Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom at the OfS, said:
‘English higher education is world-leading, and enjoys a global reputation for excellence, in large part because free speech and academic freedom are at the heart of everything it does. It is therefore not surprising that in recent years foreign states and hostile institutions have sought to exploit the sector in ways that threaten our liberty, our values and our security. Without free speech and academic freedom there is no higher education. It is therefore vital for the survival of the sector that these attempts fail.
‘Our own guidance on free speech sets out a range of examples which explain what institutions should do to safeguard free speech and academic freedom when confronted with these threats. A new statement of expectations will further build on this guidance, helping universities and colleges should they decide to enter agreements with foreign states and institutions. If they do so, they must ensure these arrangements uphold our expectations around freedom of speech and academic freedom. Our new working group will draw from expertise in the sector, and seek the views of students and those organisations working hard to ensure that issues of foreign interference receive the scrutiny they deserve. We will continue to work collaboratively and constructively as we take this important work forward.’
It is expected that the statement of expectations will be in place for the new academic year. In the meantime institutions are still subject to legal requirements around freedom of speech and academic freedom.
Notes
- Freedom of speech guidance to universities and colleges is available in Regulatory advice 24.