Morning, Monday, 23rd March 2026
Online
This conference will discuss next steps for freedom of speech in higher education institutions in England, with latest thinking on implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, alongside subsequent guidance from the Office for Students, Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education and the Department for Education.
Policy, provider duties & approaches
It will bring stakeholders, regulators, and policymakers together to assess how institutional approaches can best adapt to new guidance, with discussion on progress so far, priorities for responsible adoption moving forward whilst meeting wider safeguarding responsibilities, and strategies for strengthening institutional capability in light of potential enforcement gaps.
With new statutory duties for providers and the OfS’ free speech complaints scheme - and with the University of Sussex issued a £585k fine in March 2025 for breaches related to freedom of speech - sessions will examine implications and practicalities for providers in demonstrating compliance, looking at how effectively the act is being enforced. This includes requirements relating to policies, reporting, investigations and transparency, as well as next steps for regulation in response to lessons learnt from early cases under the new framework.
Areas for discussion include approaches for developing and updating codes of practice on freedom of speech, designing internal complaints and investigation processes that work alongside the OfS and OIA, training for HE staff and students to support understanding of their rights and responsibilities, and how universities can approach academic freedom in teaching and research under the new legal landscape.
Regulation, best practice & leadership
The agenda will focus on ongoing practical implementation of the act and associated guidance at provider level, while balancing protection of campus culture - including securing lawful speech where there are concerns about harassment, safety or institutional reputation.
Roles and responsibilities of the HE sector, individual institutions, their staff, students and student unions will be considered, drawing on the OfS’ updated guidance on compliance. Sessions will also examine implications for managing resources and related strategies for efficient leadership, as well as legal exposure implications, and data requirements associated with the new regulatory framework.
Sessions will discuss best practice moving forward for governing bodies and senior leaders in overseeing freedom of speech and academic freedom across teaching, research and staffing. This includes recruitment and promotion practices, handling contentious topics, effective management of visiting speakers, and the interaction between free speech duties, equality law and institutional equality, diversity and inclusion strategies.
Coordination & OfS enforcement
Attendees will consider 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. We also expect wider questions on how to sustain confidence in HEIs as places for rigorous, open and inclusive debate to be discussed.
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.
Strategies for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the new framework and access to complaint procedures will be discussed, as well as coordination between OfS and OIA remits, including preparation for potential dual complaints processes.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
