An academic who has previously attempted to cancel a conference will chair Research England’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion steering group. Dr Kamna Patel is a development academic and associate professor at University College London. In October 2023 Patel was appointed…
A number of universities have published guides, training courses, and statements on microaggressions which undermine freedom of expression and academic freedom. The term “microaggression” was popularised by the Harvard psychologist Dr Derald Sue. Sue defines microaggressions as: Everyday verbal, non-verbal…
The Royal College of General Practitioners has failed to take responsibility for protecting academic freedom. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is the professional membership body for GPs in the UK. It aims to “foster and maintain the highest…
In its online guide to freedom of speech the University of Birmingham states: Speech can and should be limited if it is thought to… cause a person… distress. The guide aims to provide “practical advice” to staff and students at the…
Universities which fail to maintain institutional neutrality in their disciplinary procedures may be liable for harassment and discrimination. On 8 January, a judgement was delivered in Rachel Meade’s employment tribunal case against Westminster City Council and Social Work England. Rachel…
Only three of the twenty-four Russell Group universities have publicly committed to maintaining institutional neutrality. Universities have been required, since the 1986 Education Act, to publish a code of conduct for their staff and students, with the aim of securing…
The Office for Student’s proposed guidance for students’ unions on their duties to secure free speech contains little useful information. Under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, students’ unions have a duty to take “reasonably practicable” steps to secure…
The Office for Students (OfS) has opened up its proposals for a new free speech complaints scheme to consultation. The free speech complaints scheme will allow individuals to complain that higher education institutions have failed in their legal duty to “take reasonably…