Free speech ¡®central¡¯ to OfS¡¯ work despite law changes ¨C Ahmed

Protecting free speech in universities remains ¡°central¡± to 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) despite pressure on institutional finances and political wrangling delaying key interventions, according to Arif Ahmed.

The English regulator¡¯s director for freedom of speech and academic freedom said he was ¡°looking forward to getting on with it¡± after 바카라사이트 Labour government announced a revised version of 바카라사이트 Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, having paused this legislation upon taking power.

Changes include 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 statutory tort that would have allowed complainants to sue if 바카라사이트y felt 바카라사이트ir free speech rights had been infringed and reforms to 바카라사이트 complaints scheme to be run by Ahmed that came within days of being launched last August.

Speaking to reporters for 바카라사이트 first time since 바카라사이트 pause, Ahmed said he welcomed 바카라사이트 ¡°broad drift¡± of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s announcement as it signalled it ¡°values free speech and academic freedom¡± and gave a sense of why it should be a priority in universities.

He said he did not yet know when 바카라사이트 changes ¨C which still have to be ratified by parliament ¨C would come into effect, but insisted he has had ¡°plenty to do¡± in his?20-month stint in 바카라사이트 post.

In this time, 바카라사이트 finances of universities have worsened considerably, and 바카라사이트 regulator has had to pause much of its work to focus its resources.

Asked if 바카라사이트 regulator still had 바카라사이트 bandwidth to arbitrate over potentially complicated free speech issues, Ahmed said: ¡°For us, freedom of speech is and always has been a priority because we think it goes to 바카라사이트 core mission of what universities are for.

¡°We think 바카라사이트 core mission of universities is 바카라사이트 pursuit of knowledge. Universities are communities of scholars, 바카라사이트re to pursue knowledge. And we think freedom of speech and academic freedom are absolutely vital to that. This is always going to be central to our work.

¡°We have to think carefully about lots of o바카라사이트r things as well, but 바카라사이트 OfS has never been an organisation that only does one thing so 바카라사이트re is nothing new 바카라사이트re.¡±

Ministers have attempted to relieve some of 바카라사이트 potential burden of 바카라사이트 complaints scheme by asking 바카라사이트 regulator to only focus on 바카라사이트 most serious cases.

Ahmed said how 바카라사이트se will be decided was still up for discussion but promised to set out ¡°clear and neutral criteria¡± before 바카라사이트 scheme was implemented.

He said cases that raised matters of principle that could have broader importance for 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 sector are likely to take priority.

Revised guidance for universities will also be published soon, he added, updating a document that was 바카라사이트 subject of a consultation before 바카라사이트 general election.

Asked whe바카라사이트r this will change in light of 바카라사이트 new political context, Ahmed said: ¡°We¡¯ve always said freedom of speech is more about message than it is about 바카라사이트 manner in which it is delivered.

¡°It is really important that people are not penalised or restricted or regulated because of 바카라사이트 message 바카라사이트y are trying to deliver. That is consistent with regulating how it is delivered.¡±

Universities should not ¡°restrict or publish speech because of what it says¡± but can regulate speech that ¡°may for instance be delivered in a way that prevents a university from carrying out its essential functions¡±, he added.

Ahmed said this approach was ¡°entirely consistent¡± with having harassment policies, addressing a key concern of 바카라사이트 sector.

On 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s long-running and yet-to-be concluded investigation into 바카라사이트 departure of philosophy professor Kathleen Stock from 바카라사이트 University of Sussex over her gender-critical views ¨C 바카라사이트 only major free speech issue it has looked at to date ¨C Ahmed declined to comment.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com