When rules collide: navigating university free speech obligations
Key information
- Date
- Time
-
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
- Venue
- Portcullis House
- Room
- Macmillan Room
- Event type
- Seminar
About this event
Universities are trying to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment in which free speech duties intersect with Prevent, equality obligations, safeguarding, and wider governance pressures.
The challenge is not simply one of avoiding sanction, but of making decisions that are consistent, defensible, and properly evidenced.
Yet with sanctions this has become particularly imperative: the government has announced that a new freedom of speech complaints system will be in place from the next academic year. Accordingly, the Office for Students can now issue significant fines if universities fail to protect freedom of speech. Universities are under pressure to ensure that new free speech rules are correctly implemented.
This is the second of three panels on freedom of expression and academic freedom. Join our expert panel to dive into the intricacies of the challenges of balancing duties created by different competing regulations, and also look at solutions and mechanisms to support universities.
About the speakers
Paul Kohler
Mr Paul Kohler is the Liberal Democrat MP for Wimbledon, and has been an MP continually since 2024. He currently undertakes the role of Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Northern Ireland).
Smita Jamdar
Smita Jamdar (Partner and Head of Education at Shakespeare Martineau) leads a team that works to shape the universities and colleges of the future by providing strategic advice and sector specific insight across all their legal needs. Smita is a recognised leader in her field, specialising in constitutional, governance and regulatory advice which helps educational institutions thrive in a rapidly changing landscape. She has helped institutions to innovate and develop, to widen their reach, build institutional resilience, and deliver the best outcomes for students and other stakeholders. Smita is recognised in Legal 500’s ‘Hall of Fame’ for education, and as a ‘Band 1’ lawyer in Chambers.
Image source: Shakespeare Martineau
Dr Agnes Kaposi MBE, FREng
Agnes Kaposi is a Hungarian-born British engineer, educator and author. In 1971, Dr Kaposi obtained her PhD in Computer Aided Design. As a distinguished engineer, Agnes has worked in research, education and as consultant to industrial organisations and universities. Dr Kaposi is an advocate for social justice, anti-prejudice and equality. She continues to be active in numerous Jewish and secular human rights organizations. She is the author of several books including her autobiography, Yellow Star-Red Star, and Harmage and Hope, co-authored with Anja Ballis and Ian Pyle.
Image source: The Forgiveness Project
Professor Adam Habib
Adam Habib (Vice Chancellor, SOAS) is an academic, researcher, activist, administrator, and well-known public intellectual. A Professor of Political Science, Habib has over 30 years of academic, research and administration expertise, spanning five universities and multiple local and international institutions.
