How are universities protecting freedom of speech and academic freedom?

Manchester Metropolitan University established a dedicated group aimed at ensuring compliance with OfS condition of registration on freedom of speech. Although the implementation of this condition was paused, the group took the opportunity to support meaningful conversations within the university about the importance of healthy and respectful debate. These discussions are essential for fostering a university environment where diverse views can be expressed openly and safely.

So far, the university’s efforts have led to improved dialogue with student groups, clearer information for students about freedom of speech and the right to protest, and resources to support academic staff in guiding students through difficult conversations.

Additionally, Manchester Metropolitan University introduced the Agree to Disagree: When Great Minds Don’t Think Alike resource for student-facing staff. Inspired by the UCL’s Disagreeing Well campaign and a Society of Research in Higher Education (SRHE) event on the topic, this resource offers a values-based approach to freedom of speech. It emphasises that widening participation and access-educationally and socially-brings a broader diversity of voices. The resource equips students with the skills to engage in respectful debate and to ‘agree to disagree’ when necessary.

The University of Essex has academic freedom and freedom of speech at the heart of its governance with its Royal Charter including direct reference to this: ‘Academic staff shall have freedom within the law to question and test received wisdom, and to put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions, without placing themselves in jeopardy of losing their jobs or privileges’.

The university’s Code of Practice for Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech now incorporates the existing Speaker Protocol, alongside two new policies: the Protest and Demonstration Management Protocol and a Freedom of Speech Complaints Policy. This suite of documents provides a comprehensive framework for upholding freedom of speech in a legally compliant manner.

The University of Essex has historically taken a proactive approach to supporting staff and students in upholding academic freedom and freedom of speech within the law.

As well as a longstanding Moodle module on engaging with external speakers, required for staff and student event conveners, a key part of the University of Essex’s proactive approach includes mandatory freedom of speech training for staff, launched in 2022, with annual booster sessions. This training covers a broad legal framework, including the Prevent Duty and the Public Sector Equality Duty, as well as providing information on avoiding defamation and complying with data protection and information security requirements.

It has been exceptionally successful, with, on average, 97% of staff completing the course each year. Building on this success, the university is rolling out non-mandatory student training on freedom of speech during the current academic year.

The University of Exeter has strengthened its policies, practices and support for its university community over the past year.

The university’s freedom of speech policy undergoes an annual review, with additional updates made in response to any new legislation or guidance. This policy is co-created with the university’s Students’ Union (SU) and is signed by the SU and Guild presidents alongside the vice-chancellor.

One recent development following the policy review is the creation of additional guidance to support students and staff undertaking protest activities and to promote awareness around community cohesion. As a result, the university has developed further resources, including community guidelines on protest and training sessions aimed at helping individuals navigate complex situations while upholding free speech and academic freedom within the law. A working group on free speech and good campus relations has also been established in conjunction with the university’s Students’ Guild (Exeter) and Students’ Union (Cornwall).

A key element of the university’s overarching work in this area is continual improvement to ensure learning from events on campus and more broadly across the sector is consistently fed back to ensure the university is as up to date and considered as possible in the promulgation of academic freedom and freedom of speech.

The university has also refined the information provided on risk assessment processes, filming in public spaces and raising concerns.

The University of Greenwich has a long-standing commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom, reflected in the university’s proactive policies and practices.

A key element of the university's approach is its close partnership with Greenwich Students’ Union (GSU), which oversees the approval of student-organised events involving external speakers. This process, grounded in the university’s Freedom of Speech Code of Practice, includes a thorough risk assessment process, with higher-risk events escalated to the university secretary for discussion of appropriate mitigations. Where necessary, mitigations will also be discussed with external partners (eg DfE or local authority Prevent co-ordinators).

Regular spot checks by GSU senior management ensure the quality of the process. Student group leaders are provided with training on the speaker approval process as part of their induction. This process is overseen by the university’s Safeguarding and Compliance Committee, on which GSU is represented, with the committee considering an annual report from GSU on its operation.

The same process operates at the university’s Medway campus, a joint campus with the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University. There is an escalation process and lines of communication with university partners for any events on campus considered to be higher risk.

GSU does not operate a ‘no platforming’ policy, reinforcing the university’s commitment to open dialogue.