Ten examples of how universities can promote free speech  

OfS Guidance

Th OfS Guidance on Free Speech published on 19 June 2025 covers some of the substance of these examples, but says nothing about the promote duty. The guidance is effective from 1 August 2025.

1. Publication. The OfS guidance is clear about publishing and making assessable HEI’s Free Speech codes of practice and ensuring they are embedded in all curricular and governance documents and what procedures are to be followed (s165, s169, s171, s173-s175)

3. Training. The guidance is strong on requirements for free speech training (s209-s211)

5. Costs. The guidance says any charges made for ‘security’ at events can occur only in clearly defined ‘exceptional circumstances’ and these will be ‘rare’. (s181-s184). But what about room charges?

6. Institutional Neutrality. There is much in the guidance about not requiring academics to commit to any particular viewpoint at interview or in their role (s139, s147). HEIs cannot impose blanket commitment to contested values like ‘social justice’ or ‘EDI,’ nor can they put blanket bans on ‘misgendering’ (s153, s158, Examples 32, 34, 35)

9.  Social Media. IT policies must not proscribe ‘offensive’ communication but should restrict their scope to material that is unlawful (Ex 36)

Photo: The banner of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement 1964-65.