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<p>This government will ensure that our universities are places where free speech
can thrive, and will strengthen academic freedoms.</p><p>The freedom to express views
openly, challenge ideas and engage in robust debate is crucial to the student experience
and to democracy. Individuals should never be in a position where they can be stopped
from, or are made to feel inhibited in, expressing an opinion perfectly lawfully.
Similarly, universities should be places where students are exposed to a range of
views, including those which may be controversial, and are encouraged to debate and
challenge them.</p><p>Free speech is protected in universities by law and is embedded
in the Office for Students’ Regulatory Framework. Under the Education (No 2) Act 1986,
universities have a specific duty to take reasonably practicable steps to secure freedom
of speech within the law for staff, students and visiting speakers. The government
worked with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, who published new guidance
in February 2019 on freedom of speech in higher education to support higher education
providers and students’ unions in delivering their duties.</p><p>The government will
be looking closely at how well higher education providers are meeting these obligations
and will consider whether further action is needed, working with a range of partners.</p>
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