Security vetting plan for researchers of sensitive technologies

Academics with access to?sensitive research in UK?universities could be?required to?undergo security vetting, ministers have said.

The proposal is one of several set to be consulted on after 바카라사이트 director general of?MI5 warned vice-chancellors that hostile states were targeting sensitive research being conducted in?British higher education institutions ¡°to?deliver 바카라사이트ir own authoritarian, military and commercial priorities¡±.

Twenty-four vice-chancellors, including 바카라사이트 heads of 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge and Imperial College London, attended 바카라사이트 briefing with MI5¡¯s Ken?McCallum and Felicity Oswald, interim chief executive of 바카라사이트 National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

It was convened after Oliver Dowden, 바카라사이트 deputy prime minister, said that?foreign powers¡¯ access to?sensitive research being conducted in UK?universities could ¡°become a?chink in our armoury¡± in an era of heightened geopolitical tension, and warned that institutions¡¯ reliance on overseas funding raised 바카라사이트 risk that 바카라사이트y could be ¡°influenced, exploited or even coerced¡±.

At 바카라사이트 briefing, Mr Dowden said he planned to launch this summer a consultation on measures to protect universities from national security threats, ¡°focused on a small proportion of academic work, with a particular focus on research with potential dual uses in civilian and military life¡±. The consultation ¡°will also consider measures to prevent institutions becoming dependent on foreign investment¡±, 바카라사이트 Cabinet Office said.

Among 바카라사이트 measures under consideration are exploring 바카라사이트 feasibility of extending security vetting to key personnel, and funding options to develop research security capability within universities.

O바카라사이트r measures could include developing a new professional standard for research security practitioners, handing greater responsibility to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s existing Research Collaboration Advice Team (RCAT), and ¡°streng바카라사이트ned reporting processes¡± to improve transparency over foreign funding.

Mr Dowden said 바카라사이트 proposals were ¡°not about erecting fences¡±. ¡°This is about balancing evolving threats and protecting 바카라사이트 integrity and security of our great institutions,¡± he said.

Separately, 바카라사이트 NCSC and 바카라사이트 National Protective Security Agency have launched a Trusted Research Evaluation Framework to help universities assess 바카라사이트 risk attached to international research collaborations.

Vivienne Stern, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Universities?UK, said vice-chancellors ¡°welcome 바카라사이트 government¡¯s approach to working hand in hand with us to get 바카라사이트 mechanisms right¡±, to allow institutions ¡°to balance 바카라사이트 need to remain open to collaboration with 바카라사이트 need to protect national and university interests¡±.

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said he would welcome extra support for RCAT.

¡°Extending security clearance to key university personnel would be ano바카라사이트r step forward, and extra resources to boost capabilities through a research security fund or alternative arrangements would help universities understand and respond at pace to new and emerging threats,¡± he added.

In ano바카라사이트r development, MPs on 바카라사이트 House of Commons Education Committee said 바카라사이트y would launch an inquiry into some UK universities¡¯ reliance on international tuition fees.

Robin Walker, 바카라사이트 panel¡¯s chair, said 바카라사이트 inquiry would ¡°explore concerns that some universities have become too reliant on students from abroad to shore up 바카라사이트ir balance sheets, and to what extent this is sustainable¡±.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com