OfS statement on the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023

Responding to the Department for Education's announcement on the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, Arif Ahmed, Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom at the Office for Students, said: 

‘Freedom of speech and academic freedom are fundamental to a successful higher education system, and we welcome the government's decision to proceed with measures to protect and promote them in universities and colleges across England.

‘We will now plan for the aspects of our new role that will come into force soon. In doing so we will ensure that the protections offered by the new provisions are as strong and effective as possible. And we look forward to Parliament's decisions about the remaining provisions in due course.'