Our commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom is affirmed in our Freedom of Speech Code of Practice, which has recently been revised in light of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. While the implementation of the Act is currently paused, the Code of Practice supports our existing legal obligations in this area.
Key points about the Code of Practice:
- It applies to all University and GSU events and activities, including those taking place on-campus, off campus, online (e.g. by Microsoft Teams) and mixed online and in person.
- Freedom of speech and academic freedom include the right to express views which others may find shocking, upsetting or offensive, provided the views expressed are lawful. There is rightly a high level of legal protection for these freedoms. However, academic freedom and freedom of speech may not be exercised if in so doing it breaks the law or breaches the rights of others (e.g. if its expression is unlawfully discriminatory or threatens others’ safety).
- As part of our commitment to academic freedom and freedom of speech within the law, the Code emphasises that our focus will always be on enabling an event or activity to go ahead. Permission will only be withheld in the limited circumstances specified in the Freedom of Speech Code of Practice, and normally only after attempts to engage with the organisers to put reasonable conditions in place to address the University’s concerns have been exhausted. Experience suggests that conditions are not commonly imposed and refusal of permission is extremely rare.
- Only the University Secretary can refuse permission for an event or activity to go ahead or impose conditions on it. Any concerns about an event or activity should be referred to the University Secretary for a decision.
External speaker events
- The Freedom of Speech Code of Practice includes the University’s procedures for the approval and booking of external speaker events.
- These are any event – whether on campus, off campus or online (e.g. by Teams) - with one or more external speakers which is not normal university activity related to teaching, research, enterprise or administration. For example, conferences, symposiums, seminars, public talks or public lectures involving one or more external speakers, including events open to the public and those which are restricted to University of Greenwich attendees. Use of guest or visiting lecturers as part of normal classroom teaching does not fall under the external speaker approval process (but is covered by the general provisions of the Freedom of Speech Code of Practice).
- Prior approval of the external speaker event must be sought using the external speaker approval form which is provided with the Freedom of Speech Code of Practice. The completed form should be sent at least 15 working days before the date of the proposed event to the appropriate Approving Officer as indicated in section 7.3 of the Freedom of Speech Code of Practice.
- The Approving Officer must contact the University Secretary if the Approving Officer believes that the event falls within the limited range of criteria set out in the Code of Practice in which approval may be refused or conditions imposed.
- Where an external speaker event has been approved to proceed, any proposal to subsequently withdraw permission or impose conditions (including withdrawal of an invitation to an external speaker) must be referred to the University Secretary, who will only withdraw permission or impose conditions if one of the circumstances specified in the Code of Practice applies.
- As part of our partnership with Greenwich Students' Union (GSU), the approval of student group and student society events involving external speakers is overseen by GSU under its External Speaker Policy in accordance with the Freedom of Speech Code of Practice. As part of its commitment to freedom of speech, GSU does not operate a 'no platforming' policy.
- For further information, see our Freedom of Speech webpage or contact the University Secretary (universitysecretary@greenwich.ac.uk).
