Universities If they fail to maintain free speech, punishment may be faced, as new security for educational freedom came into force.
Higher education ,Freedom of expression) Act, which applies on Friday, will require universities and colleges in England to promote educational freedom StudentStaff or speakers expressed valid opinions.
It also imposes a ban from using universities non-disclosure agreements ,) In cases of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.
Skills minister barona Jackie Smith Where is Government “Will not tolerate silenceting Academist Or students who give voice to legitimate ideas ”.
England’s Higher Education Regulators, Students for Students (OFS), can check universities and colleges and impose fines if it has been found that they have failed to protect free speech rights.
In March, Oss released a record fine of £ 585,000 to Sussex University after three and a half years of investigation in the resignation of Academic Professor Kathleen Stock.
The OS investigation found that the institute’s statement of Trans and Non-Binary Equality Policy of the institute had the “chilling effect” of the possible self-sensorship of students and employees in the campus.
It was launched in 2021 after a high-profile protests to dismiss Professor Stock on its ideas on gender identity.
Professor Arif Ahmed, Director of freedom of freedom and educational freedom in OFS, earlier suggested universities can face high fines in future if they fail to maintain free speech.
Baronic Smith said: “Academic freedom is non-pervantic in our world-comprehensive institutions, and we will not tolerate the silence of academics or students who give voice to legitimate ideas.
“This makes clearly clear in the strong safety law, and the record penalty already assigned by the OFS has put universities in notice that they will have to comply with or face the results.
“Through our plan for change, we are restoring our world class universities as an engine of development, opportunities and innovation, and it is in his heart to promote free investigation and culture of educational freedom.”
In January, Education Secretary Bridget Philipson It was announced that the government will move forward with major measures in the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act.
But he announced “statutory torture” – which could allow individuals to bring legal proceedings against universities that failed to follow the freedom of speech duties – would be removed from the law.
Ms. Philipson said that torture would “create expensive litigation that will take the risk of removing resources away from students”.
The implementation of the law passed under the previous orthodox government in 2023 was prevented by labor in July last year, which could be a “burden” for universities after the general election.
A new OFS Grievance Scheme will allow academics, external speakers and university employees to raise concerns about restrictions on their legitimate free speech, which can lead to fines if their free speech is not protected.
Students will be able to complain to the office of independent assistant.
Prof. Ahmed said: “Free speech and educational freedom are fundamental for the quality of students’ education and their experience in higher education.
“From today, universities and college take new legal duties to secure and promote freedom of speeches and educational freedom.
“The regulatory requirements of Oss are also fully fully to prevent and address harassment and sexual misconduct.
“These are an important group of measures that will pursue students from harassment, while ensuring that students and educationists are free to discuss controversial views, some people can find shocking or aggressive.”
