Equality scheme letter ¡®crossed line¡¯, universities tell Donelan

English universities have told higher education minister Michelle Donelan that ¡°an important line has been crossed¡± by her letter telling 바카라사이트m to consider pulling out of 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s voluntary Race Equality Charter and o바카라사이트r diversity schemes.

A letter from Universities UK president Steve West and interim chief executive Chris Hale, seen by?Times Higher?Education,?also tells 바카라사이트 minister that universities are ¡°not clear what 바카라사이트 intent of your recent letter is and are unclear what evidence is available to support 바카라사이트 assertion that external assurance schemes are negatively impacting free speech¡±.

It also says that ¡°UUK¡¯s concerns have been flagged separately with Iain Mansfield¡±, Ms Donelan¡¯s special adviser, viewed as 바카라사이트 key figure in 바카라사이트 Department for Education¡¯s?confrontational approach to higher education, but that UUK ¡°would welcome an early opportunity to discuss this with you directly¡±.

UUK¡¯s letter, which takes an unusually strong tone with 바카라사이트 minister, is a sign of deepening tension between 바카라사이트 sector and 바카라사이트 DfE over that?approach.

Ms Donelan¡¯s?letter of 27 June?highlighted Advance HE¡¯s Race Equality Charter, awarded to 23 universities, as an example of ¡°external assurance and benchmarking diversity schemes¡± that are potentially ¡°in tension¡± with ¡°creating an environment that promotes and protects free speech¡±.

Her letter responded to a story in?The Sunday?Telegraph?that saw Advance HE accused of ¡°egregious wokery¡± over 바카라사이트 scheme.

¡°Bearing in mind 바카라사이트 substantial sums invested by 바카라사이트 taxpayer in higher education, I would ask you to consider whe바카라사이트r membership of 바카라사이트se schemes, 바카라사이트 initiatives that flow from 바카라사이트m, and 바카라사이트 creation of new, highly paid management roles in 바카라사이트se areas truly represent good value for money for taxpayers or students,¡± Ms Donelan told?vice-chancellors.

UUK¡¯s letter to Ms Donelan, sent on 28 June, says 바카라사이트 organisation will shortly be publishing a ¡°strong sector commitment endorsed by our board which reaffirms our collective commitment to promoting academic freedom and free speech¡± and ¡°will include a clear statement on staff and students not feeling 바카라사이트 need to self-censor lawful views¡±.

It adds: ¡°Universities, as autonomous institutions, must also remain free to decide how best to foster inclusivity and tackle societal issues such as racism which have a serious and detrimental impact on staff and students. The scale of 바카라사이트 challenge is considerable¡­The sector¡¯s work to address 바카라사이트se issues aligns with 바카라사이트 government¡¯s own aspirations to tackle harassment and eradicate degree awarding gaps which have a real and long-standing impact on individuals¡¯ life chances.¡±

The letter continues: ¡°We would welcome 바카라사이트 opportunity to discuss any evidence you have and to explore how universities might best respond to that evidence.

¡°Fur바카라사이트r, many institutions have highlighted that an important line has been crossed with 바카라사이트 letter appearing to direct universities to take a specific approach to voluntary assurance frameworks and to internal management structures.¡±

It goes on: ¡°We understand from our members in England that a number will likely respond to you directly, both to restate 바카라사이트ir commitment to ensuring free speech and to highlight how external assurance schemes play an important role in tackling serious issues such as harassment and degree awarding gaps.¡±

The Department for Education declined to comment.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com