Universities Minister has today (19 October) called on
the new Office for Students (OfS) to champion free speech in UK
universities, as part of a newly launched consultation.
The consultation has been launched primarily to help establish
how the OfS, the new regulator for English higher education, will
undertake its main functions – ensuring teaching standards
continue to rise so all students receive a high-quality education
As part of the consultation the Universities Minister has asked
the OfS to focus on ensuring institutions recognise the
importance of freedom of speech and the role it plays in ensuring
open debate. The aim is to ensure students are exposed to a wide
range of issues and ideas in a safe environment without fear of
censorship, rebuke or reprisal.
Earlier in the year the Government extended the statutory duty to
secure free speech so that it will apply to all providers of
higher education registered with the new Office for Students in
the Higher Education and Research Act (HERA). The Office for
Students will be able to hold providers to account to ensure that
lawful freedom of speech is upheld by their staff and student
unions and student societies.
Universities Minister said:
Free speech is one of the foundations on which our higher
education tradition is built. It goes to the heart of our
democratic values and is a principle I know universities hold
dear.
I know there is good practice out there, and am proud that some
of our university leaders and academics have publicly defended
free speech. But there are still examples of censorship where
groups have sought to stifle those who do not agree with them.
This is why I want the OfS to work with universities to
encourage a culture of openness and debate and ensure that
those with different backgrounds or perspectives can flourish
in a higher education environment.
The consultation is on the ‘technical details’ of how the OfS
will operate. This includes looking at:
- Compulsory participation in the Teaching Excellence Framework
(TEF) for higher education providers with over 500 students;
- Publication and justification of high salaries for senior
staff;
- Transparency on how students can transfer between courses and
empowerment of students through clearer student contracts; and
- The outcome of the consultation will form part of the OfS’
‘Regulatory Framework’ which will come into force for the
academic year 2019 / 20.
Chair of the Office for Students, Sir Michael Barber said:
This consultation document sets out a framework for a new era
in higher education. The Office for Students will be a modern
regulator which consistently puts the interests of students -
short, medium and long-term - first. It sets out a bold agenda
and highlights the importance from a student perspective of
fair access, excellent teaching, progression into worthwhile
jobs and value for money.
The success of our universities has never been more important
to the future of our country. The proposals in this
consultation document will enable our universities to
contribute to the cultural and economic growth of cities,
regions and the whole country and to continue to thrive on the
global stage.
Ensuring freedom of speech and learning how to disagree with
diverse opinions and differing views of the world is a
fundamental aspect of learning at university. The OfS will
promote it vigorously.
The OfS, which was established through the HERA, will be
officially launched on 1 April 2018 and has been created to allow
more choice for students and more competition in the interest of
students.
It has been established as a single regulator to replace the
Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the
Office for fair Access (OFFA).
Ministers have appointed Sir Michael Barber as the Chair of the
OfS and Nicola Dandridge as its Chief Executive.
