Universities in England have launched a fight against government attacks on their autonomy, telling ministers they have “crossed a line” by pressuring them to abandon a scheme designed to improve equality on campus.
In what may be a turning point in the so-called “cultural wars” for freedom of expression, Universities in the UK (UK) clashed with education minister Michelle Donelan after warning them to reconsider the membership in a racial equality charter, managed by the charity Advance. EL.
The scheme, which has most Russell group universities among its members, aims to identify barriers to the success of black, Asian and ethnic minority students. But in a letter to vice-chancellors this week, Donelan said membership in the letter was “in tension” with universities’ duties to defend freedom of expression.
In its reply letter on Thursday, UK Universities said: “An important line has been crossed with the letter which seems to indicate that universities should take a specific approach” on equality.
In a subsequent statement, UUK confirmed that it intended to ignore Donelan’s application and remain affiliated with Advance HE.
A UKK spokesman said: “Universities take their responsibilities to promote and protect freedom of expression very seriously. We have yet to see any evidence of how this voluntary, non-prescriptive scheme works against this.
“The plan is voluntary and provides a means through which universities can address racial inequality within the sector and we will continue to work with Advance HE to support this goal.”
The dispute comes when the bill on freedom of expression in higher education is debated in the Lords, where it has been criticized by Conservatives, Labor and their colleagues. It has been criticized for imposing a new freedom of expression regulator with new powers to fine universities for failing to comply with the provisions on freedom of expression.
The vice-chancellors said Donelan’s letter was a gruesome precursor to how a regulator could interfere in the university’s internal affairs if the bill is passed in its current form, with one describing it as “an unequivocal attack to university autonomy “.
David Willetts, a conservative couple and former university minister, said: “I want to see protections for freedom of expression, but it is very rare to protect freedom of expression at the same time as a subsequent intervention.
“I think one of the reasons why British universities are so respected internationally is because of their autonomy. I don’t think it crosses both a line and a slippery slope where we are, where the autonomy of our universities is eroding. progressively ”.
The letter to Donelan, signed by Professor Steve West, vice-chancellor of the University of the West of England, reminded the minister that racism remained “a widespread social problem” affecting students from ethnic minorities.
But he added: “Universities, as autonomous institutions, must also be free to decide how best to foster inclusion and address social issues such as racism that have a serious and detrimental impact on staff and students.”
The letter continued: “We do not believe that freedom of expression and voluntary external guarantee frameworks contradict each other, but that they can help address power imbalances and ensure that a more diverse range of voices has the power to speak. .
“We understand from our members in England that a number will probably answer you directly, both to reiterate their commitment to guaranteeing freedom of expression and to highlight how external guarantee schemes play an important role in addressing serious issues. such as harassment and gaps in obtaining titles. ”
While Donelan’s letter noted that universities were autonomous and free to join schemes such as the racial equality charter, he went on to say that they should “think carefully” about membership.
Although Advance HE’s racial equality letter was the only example mentioned by his name, Donelan went on to say that “of course, there are a number of other similar schemes, and this letter calls for careful consideration. with respect to all of these “.
Advance HE also administers the Athena Swan Charter which aims to improve gender equality in higher education and research. Donelan has previously described the scheme as “at worst a dangerous initiative undermining the scholarship.”
“Given the significant sums invested by the taxpayer in higher education, I ask you to consider whether membership in these systems; the initiatives that derive from it; and the creation of new, highly paid executive positions in these areas really represents good value for money for taxpayers or students, ”Donelan said.
Criticizing the higher education freedom bill when it was debated this week, Shami Chakrabarti, a Labor couple and former director of Liberty, said: “How can a protection of academic freedom be given more and more power over the independent study institutions in the government Student Office and the new director for freedom of expression?
Willetts said the current bill was tough and questioned how the regulator’s freedom of speech could balance the government’s demands that some forms of legal discourse, such as Holocaust denial, not be would allow on campus.
“They expect the regulator to be more restrictive than mere legal freedom of speech. We need to know exactly what things it won’t protect despite being legal,” Willetts said.
Willetts said he expects the government to make “significant” amendments to the bill, noting that universities could be punished for suppressing some forms of discourse while technology platforms were punished under the new security bill. online from the government to convey the same. opinions.