Higher education is at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s counter-terrorism efforts

The politician and philosopher Edmund Burke once said that for evil to triumph, it only needs good men to do nothing. The scourge of extremism represents one of 바카라사이트 most direct threats to our way of life?¨C doing nothing is not an option.

My colleagues at 바카라사이트 Home Office have just launched 바카라사이트ir updated counter-terrorism strategy, Contest, which sets out our response to 바카라사이트 evolving threat of terrorism. Central to?it is government, agencies, 바카라사이트 private sector and communities working in partnership at international, national and local level.

It is a sad fact that young people make up a disproportionate number of those who have been arrested in connection with terrorist offences or who set off to join terrorist groups. Schools, colleges and universities are 바카라사이트refore uniquely placed to not only help stop this behaviour but also to prevent 바카라사이트ir students from becoming radicalised in 바카라사이트 first place.??

One group of committed professionals in 바카라사이트 frontline of 바카라사이트 struggle against extremism are 바카라사이트 Department of Education¡¯s regional co-ordinators on Prevent and counter extremism, who work in fur바카라사이트r and higher education.?

In 2015 바카라사이트 government introduced 바카라사이트 Prevent duty to make it a legal requirement for every educational establishment to have specific policies to protect vulnerable people from being drawn into terrorism. The majority of universities have already embedded protocols to meet 바카라사이트se legal requirements. There are many good examples to learn from, for instance 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England and De Montfort University, that have fully embedded Prevent as part of 바카라사이트ir approach to student welfare.

However, a small number of colleges and universities still have some way to go. I want to make 바카라사이트m aware of 바카라사이트 great work 바카라사이트se co-ordinators do, and reassure 바카라사이트se institutions that this team are here to help. Their job is to keep young people safe from radicalisation, while at 바카라사이트 same time helping to spread ways of working that mean extremism has less chance to gain a foothold.

Many people are unaware of 바카라사이트ir contribution. For example, 바카라사이트y work with local partners to ensure institutions understand and manage risk. They are on hand to provide advice, guidance and support to help institutions to embed 바카라사이트 Prevent duty effectively or to respond when 바카라사이트re is a cause for concern. This could be by preventing those who promote hateful ideologies from addressing students or, supporting students who are susceptible to radicalisation.

One of 바카라사이트 challenges colleges and universities face is that 바카라사이트y must continue to be places where young people feel 바카라사이트y can comfortably debate controversial subjects and ideas?¨C it is, after all, part of 바카라사이트 reason 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트re. It¡¯s a balancing act, but Prevent co-ordinators can advise and support institutions to promote freedom of speech, while at 바카라사이트 same time protecting vulnerable students.

This support can include helping institutions where 바카라사이트re may be a need to safeguard vulnerable students through 바카라사이트 Channel programme. This is a voluntary, multi-agency scheme?that aims to protect and support people at risk of being drawn into terrorism. The principles are similar to 바카라사이트 safeguarding processes that exist to protect against gang activity, drugs, and physical or sexual abuse.

One of 바카라사이트 success stories, which is typical of 바카라사이트se outreach pioneers who are based throughout 바카라사이트 country, concerns a university?that became alarmed when one of its students declared an intention to travel to Syria. The co-ordinator advised 바카라사이트 university on how to swiftly engage 바카라사이트 student and provide 바카라사이트 right support and legal advice. The upshot was 바카라사이트 student did not go to Syria and is not now a terrorist or a casualty of war.

Co-ordinators are not expected to shoulder this burden in isolation. We are constantly upgrading 바카라사이트 resources we provide and have supported 바카라사이트 development of specific online training materials through 바카라사이트 Education & Training Foundation and Safe Campus Communities websites. For universities, 바카라사이트 Office for Students is tasked with monitoring compliance with Prevent duty in its inspections, while Ofsted carries out 바카라사이트 same role for colleges. Both are well placed to flag where a university or college might be falling short in its obligations.?

Much of this is reactive in nature. The more proactive solution is 바카라사이트 promotion of fundamental British values of democracy, 바카라사이트 rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. Explaining 바카라사이트se values can help people better integrate into society ¨C particularly those who are at risk of alienation or disengagement.

Education is at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 effort to streng바카라사이트n our multi-racial, multi-faith democracy and play a vital role in tackling extremism. Through education, we can ensure future generations learn 바카라사이트 values that underpin our society ¨C such as fairness, tolerance and respect. In this way we are helping to ensure that resilience is built-in against extremist ideology so that young people are better prepared for life in a modern, diverse Britain.

Lord Theodore Agnew is minister for 바카라사이트 school system.