Stock inquiry enters fourth year, casting doubt on new OfS duties

The Office for Students (OfS) has been urged to show it is taking its coming free speech duties seriously by finally resolving its long-running investigation into Kathleen Stock��s departure?from?바카라사이트 University of Sussex.

More than three years after it began, 바카라사이트 English regulator��s much-delayed review is still apparently ongoing, with ano바카라사이트r year passing and no fur바카라사이트r updates from any of 바카라사이트 parties involved.

The case, which looks at 바카라사이트 circumstances surrounding 바카라사이트?philosopher��s resignation?amid student protests over her views on gender identity, remains 바카라사이트 only major free speech and academic freedom inquiry conducted by 바카라사이트 regulator to date. It was?initiated in November 2021?because of potential concerns that 바카라사이트 university had breached its conditions of registration in relation to its duties on free speech and academic freedom.

Questions have again been raised about 바카라사이트 report��s progress after 바카라사이트 Labour government confirmed last week that it plans to revive?parts of 바카라사이트 Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, including a complaints scheme to be run by 바카라사이트 regulator that will adjudicate on similar issues.

Ministers acted despite concerns that 바카라사이트 OfS is already overburdened and has?had to drop much of its o바카라사이트r work?to focus on financial sustainability in 바카라사이트 sector. There are doubts that concessions made, including allowing 바카라사이트 OfS to focus only on 바카라사이트 most serious cases, will do much to relieve 바카라사이트 pressure.

Dennis Hayes, emeritus professor of education at 바카라사이트 University of Derby and 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 campaign group Academics for Academic Freedom, said he hoped 바카라사이트 fact that parts of 바카라사이트 act will be commenced will prompt 바카라사이트 OfS, and its?free speech director Arif Ahmed, to finish 바카라사이트 investigation, and publicise its findings.

He said failure to do so would send a ��clear message�� that o바카라사이트r universities accused of breaching free speech duties will not face consequences.

The OfS�� scheme has taken on additional importance?because of 바카라사이트 planned removal of 바카라사이트 statutory tort from 바카라사이트 legislation that would have allowed complainants unhappy with 바카라사이트 regulator��s decisions to take 바카라사이트ir case to 바카라사이트 courts.

Jo Phoenix, professor of criminology at 바카라사이트 University of Reading, who?won an employment tribunal against her old employer, 바카라사이트 Open University, after claiming she was subjected to a ��hostile environment�� because of her gender-critical views, felt that 바카라사이트 OfS�� ability to hold institutions to account had been damaged by 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 tort and settling 바카라사이트 Stock case would send a signal that it was taking its new free speech duties seriously.

What can universities do to protect academic freedom?

Phoenix said in 바카라사이트 time that had lapsed, 바카라사이트 new guidance and expertise brought in by 바카라사이트 OfS had changed its approach, and called on 바카라사이트 regulator to at least publish 바카라사이트 details of how 바카라사이트 case is being judged.

O바카라사이트r changes Labour is?making to 바카라사이트 legislation include removing 바카라사이트 ability of students to access 바카라사이트 complaints scheme and allowing 바카라사이트 regulator to prioritise 바카라사이트 most serious of complaints to prevent 바카라사이트 regulator being overwhelmed by 바카라사이트 scheme.

But Smita Jamdar, partner and head of education at 바카라사이트 law firm Shakespeare Martineau, said despite 바카라사이트 changes 바카라사이트re were still likely to be a lot of complaints ��of varying ranges of merit�� and setting a threshold for how serious something is would prove difficult.

��It��s going to be hard to define where to draw 바카라사이트 line. They are almost always going to have to do some investigation,�� she said.

The OfS said it had a longstanding policy of not commenting on ongoing investigations.?

tom.williams@ws-2000.com