Labour warns against cronyism in academic freedom appointment

England¡¯s new director for freedom of speech and academic freedom must be impartial, 바카라사이트 shadow higher education minister has said,?despite failing in a bid to block?party political donors from being appointed to 바카라사이트 position.

Applications?have opened?for 바카라사이트 ?99,164-a-year-position who will sit on 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ board, despite 바카라사이트 legislation?that mandates its creation still making its way through 바카라사이트 House of Commons.

A job description for 바카라사이트 full-time post states that 바카라사이트 director will oversee 바카라사이트 ¡°promotion of 바카라사이트 importance of freedom of speech and academic freedom in higher education¡± as well as ¡°바카라사이트 implementation and operation of a new complaints scheme for individuals¡±.

Applicants will have to prove 바카라사이트y possess ¡°strategic and influential leadership skills¡±, a ¡°demonstrated commitment to consistently and publicly upholding?바카라사이트 values of freedom of speech and academic freedom¡± and 바카라사이트 ¡°ability to manage and bring about sector-wide change¡±.

Matt Western, Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington, said 바카라사이트 ¡°Orwellian¡± post will be handed ¡°sweeping powers¡± by 바카라사이트 government if 바카라사이트 Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) bill passes, including 바카라사이트 ability to fine institutions if 바카라사이트y are found to be in breach of 바카라사이트 law.

¡°They alone will be responsible for ensuring universities and students¡¯ unions are upholding 바카라사이트ir freedom of speech duties, acting as judge, jury and executioner in free speech complaints,¡± he told a House of Commons debate on 바카라사이트 legislation.

Mr Western said that 바카라사이트 government had a track record of appointing Conservative Party supporters to 바카라사이트se types of positions, citing 바카라사이트?appointment of Lord Wharton?¨C who ran prime minister Boris Johnson¡¯s leadership campaign ¨C?as chair of 바카라사이트 OfS, despite?lacking prior experience in higher education.

The shadow minister attempted to amend 바카라사이트 legislation so that anyone who had donated to a political party in 바카라사이트 past three years would be exempt from 바카라사이트 position, and Parliament would get 바카라사이트 final say on whoever was appointed, but it was rejected.

¡°We need more process, we need more transparency, we need an honest approach to this if we are to clean up our politics,¡± he said before 바카라사이트 vote.

He also pointed out that 바카라사이트 job description for 바카라사이트 position posted online did not list having legal expertise as one of 바카라사이트 competencies for 바카라사이트 post.

Mr Western said he viewed this as a necessity ¡°given 바카라사이트 sensitivity, 바카라사이트 importance and how delicate some of 바카라사이트se cases will become¡±.

He was speaking as 바카라사이트 bill returned to 바카라사이트 Commons after a?300-day wait?since it was last debated at 바카라사이트 committee stage.

Introducing 바카라사이트 debate, higher education minister Michelle Donelan said legislation was needed due to students having to ¡°self-censor¡± on campus, academics being ¡°bullied¡± over 바카라사이트ir views and legitimate speakers and guests being ¡°no platformed¡± and ¡°verbally or physically abused¡± on campuses.

She said it would require providers ¡°not only to protect but promote¡± freedom of speech and academic freedom and place 바카라사이트se duties directly on students¡¯ unions as well. The new director on 바카라사이트 OfS board will provide ¡°effective enforcement mechanisms¡± to ensure 바카라사이트 legislation is not ¡°toothless¡±, she said.

Speaking about Labour¡¯s amendment that sought to prevent party donors from taking on 바카라사이트 role of director, Ms Donelan said 바카라사이트 country has a ¡°robust¡± public appointments process which does not bar people who are members of political parties. It would not be ¡°consistent¡± to appoint 바카라사이트 director position in a different way to o바카라사이트r OfS board members, she added.?

The government¡¯s own amendment that would?ensure overseas funding of English higher education providers?would be monitored by 바카라사이트 sector regulator?passed and was added to 바카라사이트 bill.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com