New data published today by the Office for Students (OfS) shows
that during 2021-22, 31,545 speakers or events were approved to
be held in English universities and colleges. The data shows that
during that period 260 planned events did not go ahead. A further
475 went ahead with some form of mitigation.
The data is published alongside information drawn from the data
universities and colleges return to the OfS as part of their
compliance with the Prevent duty.
The figures show an increase in the number of events approved, as
well as the number of speakers and events not approved compared
to 2020-21, when 19,405 events went ahead and 195 did not. The
proportion of events that did not go ahead is just below one per
cent. During 2020-21 England was subject to various restrictions
due to the coronavirus pandemic, which had been largely removed
for the 2021-22 reporting period.
Commenting on the data, David Smy, Director of Monitoring and
Intervention at the OfS, said:
‘While this data suggests that the overwhelming majority of
events with external speakers went ahead as planned – which is
welcome – the data may not provide the full picture. The data
does not capture decisions not to invite speakers in the first
place or voluntary withdrawal of requests for approval. We
recognise that this could be masking cases where event organisers
or speakers feel unable to proceed with the event they had
planned.
‘As a result of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023
the OfS will be taking on new powers, and the universities and
colleges we regulate will have additional responsibilities to
take steps to protect and promote freedom of speech within the
law. We have a range of powers to intervene if we identify
concerns that universities and colleges are rejecting invited
speakers who wish to express lawful views, even if those views
are challenging or seen as offensive by some.’
The report also provides data on the management of individual
radicalisation cases by universities and colleges as part of
their duty under Prevent. It shows that 55 cases were subject to
formal referral to external Prevent agencies. Universities and
colleges were asked to identify any underpinning ideology for
each case. Of the 55 referrals, 15 were identified as potential
Islamist radicalisation and 10 as potential extreme right-wing
radicalisation.
ENDS
Notes
- The Office for Students is the independent regulator for
higher education in England. Our aim is to ensure that every
student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience
of higher education that enriches their lives and careers.
- The data is published at: https://officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/prevent-monitoring-summary-of-2021-22-accountability-and-data-returns/
- Of the 55 cases subject to formal referral to external
Prevent agencies, 25 were categorised as being of mixed, unclear
or unstable ideology, and 10 as ‘other radicalisation.’
- There were 19 universities and colleges that refused
permission for speakers during 2021-22, which accounts for the
260 refusals.
- Figures are rounded to the nearest five. As a result,
subtotals and totals may not sum exactly.
