“Radicalisation, the impact of counter-terrorism and counter-extremism measures on universities, and the challenge of protecting academic freedom of speech”.
Speakers
- Professor Colin Riordan, President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University, Vice-President of Universities UK and Chair of Universities Wales;
- Dr Chris Allen, Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Birmingham; and
- Jodie Ginsberg, Chief Executive of Index on Censorship
Professor Colin Riordan described the question of how to deal with extremism on campus as one of the ‘thorniest issues’ that vice-chancellors face, and said that the media often over-simplified what are complex questions requiring nuanced responses.
He set out the legal duty of universities emanating from the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, to have ‘due regard to the need to prevent individuals from being drawn into terrorism’. This makes obligatory engagement with Prevent, which universities have generally been involved in on a voluntary basis for some time.
He made clear that the sector acknowledges that it has a role to play in this agenda, as around half of young people attend university, and at a point in their life where they may be more vulnerable to extremism.
Professor Riordan described some of the particular work which Cardiff University, other universities in Wales, and the sector as a whole have done in this area. This included: a jointly agreed risk-management process for external speakers adopted across Wales; a chaplaincy service established in collaboration with the Muslim Council for Wales which has led to student-led multi-faith events; and the Safer Campus Communities website administered by Universities UK.
Because the sector was generally already doing much of what will be required of it under the new law, and so in general the sector did not oppose this legal obligation (although some vice-chancellors did voice concern). There was widespread concern in the sector about one aspect of the guidance that was published by the Home Office: the sections related to events on campus and external speakers.
...to continue reading please open the PDF below.