Morning, Monday, 23rd March 2026
Online
This conference will consider next steps for freedom of speech in higher education institutions in England, following implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 and subsequent guidance from the Office for Students and the Department for Education.
Policy, provider duties & approaches
The conference will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to assess how institutional approaches are adapting, emerging issues, and the way forward for promoting lawful freedom of speech and academic freedom while meeting wider safeguarding and equality responsibilities.
With new statutory duties for providers, and the OfS free speech complaints scheme, the agenda will examine implications and practicalities for providers in demonstrating compliance with the new duties - including requirements relating to policies, reporting, investigations and transparency.
Delegates will discuss implementation of the act and associated guidance at provider level, including developing and updating codes of practice on freedom of speech, designing internal complaints and investigation processes that work alongside the OfS scheme and the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, alongside ensuring that staff and students are supported to understand their rights and responsibilities.
Regulation, best practice & implications
Discussion will focus on practical priorities, including securing lawful speech where there are concerns about harassment, safety or institutional reputation, and managing resource implications, legal risk and data requirements associated with the new regulatory framework.
The agenda will look at best practice for governing bodies and senior leaders in overseeing freedom of speech and academic freedom across teaching, research and staffing. This includes implications for recruitment and promotion practices, governance of controversial speakers and events, and the interaction between free speech duties, equality law and institutional equality, diversity and inclusion strategies.
Coordination & OfS enforcement
Delegates will assess options for navigating the alignment of institutional autonomy and mission with strengthened regulatory expectations, and for supporting student unions, staff and student representatives, and advocacy groups in contributing constructively to campus debate.
Further sessions examine the wider policy and cultural context, including recent OfS enforcement activity, debates around Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and questions about how free speech duties interact with institutional commitments on equality and with wider social movements.
Attendees will consider strategies for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the new framework, the coordination between OfS and OIA remits, approaches to managing expectations on transparency in relation to overseas funding and foreign influence, and the way forward for sustaining confidence in higher education institutions as places for rigorous, open and respectful debate.
Overview of areas for discussion
- Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023:
- implementation so far - design of the OfS and OIA complaints schemes - consistent application of free speech across institutions and bodies
- approaches to data sharing, reporting, and learning from early cases
- practical steps for institutions:
- financial implications of legal and administrative costs - developing effective internal procedures for handling complaints
- staff training - governance structures - preparing escalation routes, including appeals and tribunals
- institutional autonomy and governance:
- reconciling statutory compliance with institutional decision-making and academic freedom - autonomy in curriculum design and research
- approaches to aligning internal policies with OfS expectations
- campus culture:
- assessing the nature and drivers of expression on campus - promoting a culture of free speech and open debate across campus - staff and student views on updated legislation
- strategies for preventing harassment and discrimination - impact of new duties on student unions - managing reputational risk
- next steps:
- assessing regulation and freedom of speech in higher education going forward - further legislative options following the experience of early cases under the new framework
- addressing implications of overseas transparency measurers
