Key Facts

• Amendment 59 seeks to insert “and students” after “staff” in clause 1, page 2, line 9.
• Witnesses testified that academic freedom should protect both staff and students due to the vulnerability of students to self-censorship.
• Professor Biggar mentioned a case where a junior research fellow was pressured not to be photographed or named at an event due to fear of repercussions for their career.
• Julia Rynkiewicz, a Catholic midwifery student, faced suspension and investigation after leading a pro-life group.
• Professors Goodwin and Kaufmann stated that 25% of UK university students self-censor.
• Fiona Bruce raised concerns over the potential exclusion of students under the Bill's definition.
• Professor Biggar and a midwifery student were cited as examples to support her argument for including students in the protection of academic freedom.
• Matt Western argued that conferring academic freedom status on new students might not be appropriate due to their lack of experience and academic rigour.
• Doctoral students have considerable expertise and might be tutoring undergraduates.
• Academic freedom should be conferred based on peer-reviewed research rather than just being present on campus.
• Amendment 44 includes the words “and in the conduct of research” to close a loophole for doctoral students.
• The Bill seeks to extend academic freedom protections to academic staff.
• Academic freedom under the Bill includes promotion and new applicants for positions.
• Honorary positions, paid or unpaid, are covered under the provisions of academic freedom.
• Freedom of speech would cover students in various scenarios.
• Amendment aims to clarify distinctions between freedom of speech and academic freedom.
• Academic freedom is rooted in university education principles like innovation, intellectual curiosity, and creativity.
• Witnesses testified that many academics feel unwelcome or restricted from expressing their views.
• Proposed amendment includes freedoms to question received wisdom, put forward new ideas, and express opinions about the institution's governance.
• The amendment seeks to defend the integrity of academics at the 'coalface'.
• There is concern about top-down pressure from university management on academics.
• University governance and accountability are issues for consideration after passing this Bill.
• Universities are making decisions to drop courses due to financial constraints.
• There is a debate about whether universities should be motivated by utilitarian purposes or broader societal benefits.
• The UNESCO definition of academic freedom includes five parts, including freedom from institutional censorship and the ability to express opinions about the institution.
• Amendment 47 aims to protect academics from institutional penalties related to their work at other institutions.
• Amendment 48 seeks to prevent universities from denying training opportunities as a form of punishment for an academic's views.
• Amendment 60 is about including adverse impacts on educational progress, though the speaker expresses reservations about it.
• Emma Hardy proposes an amendment to remove 'within their field of expertise' from the Bill.
• Professor Nigel Biggar's comments on defining fields of expertise are referenced.
• The original definition of academic freedom does not include limitations based on field of expertise.
• Amendment 27 aims to protect academic freedom.
• Definition of an academic’s field of expertise could restrict their freedom of expression.
• Example given: Professor Richard Dawkins critiquing religion despite not being a theologian.
• Amendment 27 aims to protect academics expressing non-mainstream viewpoints.
• Professor Matthew Goodwin shared that only 10% of academics supported Brexit when he did.
• John Finnis, an emeritus professor at Oxford, faced calls for his removal due to traditional Catholic views.
• David Palmer was denied recognition as a chaplain by Nottingham University over comments on euthanasia and abortion.
• Professor Kaufmann mentioned there can be over 100 applicants for any academic post.
• Amendments 45, 46, and 48 seek enhanced protection for academics.
• Amendment 45 clarifies that the Bill applies to innovative research.
• Amendment 46 emphasizes freedom from government or institutional interference.
• Amendment 48 covers career development without discrimination.
• Amendment 28 aims to remove limitations on academic freedom within a person’s field of expertise.
• The current provision includes the requirement that protected speech must be lawful and within an individual’s academic field of expertise.
• The Minister commits to reassessing the need for the ‘field of expertise’ qualification after today's debate.
• Academic freedom is a subset of freedom of speech.
• Amendments 60 and 68 seek to extend academic freedom to students, which the minister does not support at this time.
• The Higher Education and Research Act 2017 already includes protections for external applicants seeking academic posts and career development.
• Amendment 32 aims to exclude denial of genocide statements from the objective of securing freedom of speech.
• Amendment 69 defines 'genocide' and 'denial of genocide' under Article II of the UN Convention on Genocide.
• Amendment 54 ensures that freedom of speech and academic freedom do not cover statements denying genocide.
• Amendment 34 excludes denial of genocide statements from students’ union duties to secure freedom of speech.
• The amendment aims to exclude holocaust denial and denial of genocides in Rwanda, Darfur, Cambodia, and Bosnia.
• Professor Goodwin stated he would invite speakers from extremist organizations like the British National Party or National Front.
• Nick Griffin has a degree from Cambridge University and has addressed university societies including the Cambridge Union.
• Government seeks to exempt providers and student unions from securing freedom of speech for those denying genocide.
• Hololocaust deniers often have links to neo-Nazi extremism, antisemitic violence, and intimidation.
• The Bill does not give anyone the right to a platform but requires reasonably practicable steps to secure freedom of speech within legal limits.
• John Hayes is a professor at the University of Bolton.
• John Martin McDonnell is an honorary fellow of Birkbeck College, and his wife is a tutor at UCL.
• David Simmonds is an honorary fellow of Birkbeck.
• Lloyd Russell-Moyle has professional connections with the Universities of Sussex and Bradford.
• Matt Western's wife works at a higher education provider.
• Emma Hardy's partner works on the University of Hull’s degree apprenticeship course.