Working group progress: 2023

The Policy workstream began reviewing key policies and procedures, and considered relevant legal obligations and their interaction with freedom of expression and academic freedom. New guidance on staff and student protests was drafted and agreed, as well as documents clarifying the interaction between the University’s Dignity and Respect Policy, freedom of expression and academic freedom.    

The Engagement and Culture workstream considered how to assess the state of academic freedom and freedom of expression within the University community, and how we could engage meaningfully across a community with a wide range of diverse viewpoints and expectations about these topics. This included speaking to internal and external stakeholders to gain feedback on their experiences of exercising academic freedom and freedom of expression. A key highlighted need from these conversations was a requirement for further research, a priority to be delivered in 2024. 

The Communication workstream supported the group by delivering a suite of communications with staff and students about the University’s position and objectives, as well as providing information about the establishment, remit and membership of the Working Group. Work was also undertaken on the website, including updating information as our Policy workstream activities were delivered. Communications were also developed to support the all-staff meeting held in May 2023. 

The Education workstream provided training on academic freedom and freedom of expression, as well as our legal responsibilities, for senior leaders, including a dedicated session for University Executive members. In-depth sessions on academic freedom and freedom of expression, including discussion of potential scenarios, were also held with Heads of Schools as part of the new Senior Leader’s Induction Programme. Feedback on these sessions has been used to further develop training materials for use in key leadership programmes across the University as needed.