Consultation on proposed regulatory advice and other matters relating to freedom of speech

Annex C: Proposed amendments to the regulatory framework

1. In paragraph 10, after ‘a. The need to protect the institutional autonomy of English higher education providers’, add:

(aa) The need to promote the importance of freedom of speech within the law in the provision of higher education by English higher education providers. (This general duty applied from 1 August 2024.)

(ab) The need to protect the academic freedom of academic staff at English higher education providers. (This general duty applied from 1 August 2024.)

2. After paragraph 54 add the following:

Promoting the importance of freedom of speech and academic freedom

54A Under HERA section 69A the OfS must promote the importance of —

(a) freedom of speech within the law, and

(b) academic freedom for academic staff of registered higher education providers and their constituent institutions,

in the provision of higher education by registered higher education providers and their constituent institutions.

54B Under HERA section 69A the OfS may —

(a) identify good practice relating to how to support freedom of speech and academic freedom, and

(b) give advice about such practice to registered higher education providers and their constituent institutions.