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Written question asked by Alicia Kearns (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 January 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 January 2025 (named day). It was answered by Janet Daby (Labour) on Thursday, 6 February 2025 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Confucius Institutes: Academic Freedom

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the work of Confucius Institutes on freedom of speech in the higher education sector.

Answer

This government is committed to ensuring our world leading universities remain free from foreign interference.

Any international arrangements English higher education (HE) providers who are registered with the Office for Students (OfS) make, including Confucius Institutes, should be within the law and comply with OfS registration conditions. These include a commitment to the public interest governance principles, which include academic freedom and freedom of speech. The OfS may take regulatory action if HE providers allow foreign governments to interfere in free speech or academic freedom.

The department expects the UK HE sector to be alert to a range of risks when collaborating with international partners and to conduct appropriate due diligence to comply with legislation and consider risks, including potential threats to freedom of speech and academic freedom.

The department’s proposals regarding the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 have reinforced our clear expectations that HE providers must uphold the principles of freedom of speech and academic freedom. The OfS can request information from HE providers registered with them about overseas arrangements, including financial transactions, if they believe registration conditions may have been breached. The measures we are now implementing through the Act will further strengthen opportunities for the OfS, by providing a new focused way for complaints about foreign interference on academic freedom to be escalated.

The department is also carrying out a full and comprehensive audit on the breadth of the UK’s relationship with China. This government, through the ongoing China audit, will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China, rooted in the UK’s and global interests. We will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to and challenge where we must.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
25750
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Academic freedom Confucius Institutes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk