Universities have to protect free thinking, says minister

UNIVERSITIES must cultivate ‘diversity of thought’ because many legitimate views are still seen as unacceptable on campuses, the higher education minister has urged.

Sam Gyimah said many students feel they cannot express pro-Brexit or Conservative views as they are deemed ‘offensive’ by their peers.

And he challenged the higher education sector to ‘call out’ censorship and end the ‘monoculture’ of everyone feeling they have to ‘think the same’.

Addressing the annual conference of Universities UK in Sheffield, he also called for a ‘ more open approach’ to international students to ensure that institutions ‘remain competitive’.

Mr Gyimah was speaking to vice chancellors about the role they could play in helping the country to navigate imminent challenges, such as Brexit.

He said discussions were all too often ‘driven by identity politics’ which serves to ‘impoverish the quality of debate’ and it was the entire ‘campus community’, including professors, who could be complicit in stifling views.

‘On Brexit, all sides of the debate should be welcome. And that is not just about leave or remain but also the other big Brexit debate – what future we want as a country post-Brexit,’ the minister said.

‘These will be big impassioned debates in Parliament and in the country. Universities can only play the central role they should play if free speech within the law is encouraged to the widest extent.’

Mr Gyimah’s comments come after numerous incidents of protesters trying to stop Conservative guests speaking at universities, including Jacob Rees-Mogg who was caught up in a scuffle at the University of the West of England.

The minister said he was concerned by reports that Australia and the US may be edging in on the UK’s market share for overseas students. They bring universities and their towns muchneeded money, but vice chancellors fear they are being put off because of rules which prevent them working in the UK after their degrees.

They are currently lobbying for the Government to introduce a two-year work visa for all non-EU students which would mean a relaxation of anti-immigration measures imposed in 2012.

Asked about the proposal, Mr Gyimah said he welcomed the ‘fresh thinking’ although he would not be drawn on whether he was actively in favour of it.