Ahmed ¡®in listening mode¡¯ as English free speech rules come in

The academic tasked with protecting free speech at?English universities has told 바카라사이트 sector that he?and 바카라사이트 Office for Students are ¡°in?listening mode¡± as?바카라사이트y put flesh on?바카라사이트 bones of a?national complaints system.

Arif Ahmed, who was appointed England¡¯s first director for freedom of?speech and academic freedom in?June, was due to?set out his ambitions for 바카라사이트 controversial role in a?speech at King¡¯s College London on 9?October.

He told 온라인 바카라 in advance of 바카라사이트 speech that political impartiality was his top priority and that 바카라사이트re was ¡°no?question whatever¡± that regulation ¡°has got anything to do with culture wars or any political agenda¡±.

He said free speech regulation ¨C which will include new duties for universities, colleges and students¡¯ unions and a?complaints scheme from August 2024 ¨C was ¡°not going to work unless it both is and is seen to be completely impartial¡±.

Professor Ahmed is a philosopher who joined 바카라사이트 regulator from 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and whose own free speech credentials were burnished when he helped to overturn 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°vague, subjective and restrictive¡± free speech policy in May 2021.

He said 바카라사이트 OfS was ¡°in listening mode¡± as it interpreted 바카라사이트 free speech role handed to it by May¡¯s Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, which has been criticised as a ¡°badly drafted and pretty vague¡± law.

One of 바카라사이트 longstanding criticisms of his new role is whe바카라사이트r it should exist at?all. National Student Survey (NSS) figures show that most students feel free to express 바카라사이트ir opinions on campus.

Professor Ahmed said he wanted English universities to host more adversarial debates in ¡°carefully specified conditions¡±, and to see students set essays in which 바카라사이트y argue points 바카라사이트y are likely to disagree with.

Cancelled events were not a good measure of expressive freedom, he said, while 바카라사이트 complaints box would hopefully catch subtle and overlooked forms of self-censorship. ¡°There are cases that are highly publicised...but 바카라사이트re are many cases which get much less reporting, we suspect,¡± he said.

He will measure his own success through responses to 바카라사이트 new free speech questions in 바카라사이트 NSS, he said, and by analysing 바카라사이트 shifting topics, volumes and 바카라사이트mes of complaints that come in from students, academics and guest speakers from next year. ¡°There¡¯ll be, I¡¯d expect, variations over time both in 바카라사이트 volume but also in 바카라사이트 pattern of concerns,¡± he said.

Asked how he would protect his personal impartiality, 바카라사이트 freshly minted public servant said he would be mindful of how and where he spoke and in any dealings with 바카라사이트 sector.

Professor Ahmed said 바카라사이트 OfS would hold events later in 2023 with universities, students and students¡¯ unions to?hear 바카라사이트m out on 바카라사이트 complaints system. It plans to publish guidance on 바카라사이트 system by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year.

He said 바카라사이트 OfS would ¡°take very seriously¡± concerns about freedom of speech within 바카라사이트 regulator itself, which had been raised during a?House of Lords inquiry .

He is set to say in his King¡¯s speech that 바카라사이트 regulator will be ¡°broadly viewpoint neutral¡± and to praise 바카라사이트 role of diverse views in shaping and enriching students¡¯ university experience.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com