UCU Petition – Defend academic freedom against Counter-terrorism Bill duties

Please see the following national UCU petition against new anti–terror laws that require FE and HE institutions to identify those at risk of radicalization or those who hold extreme views to the authorities (note there no definition of what is meant by extreme).

Part 5 of the bill seeks to place a new duty on specified authorities (including universities, colleges, school and prisons) to “have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.

Behaviours suggested for lecturers to identify include students disagreeing with mainstream political and social values. The bill could arguably profile those studying in Higher Education and represents an affront to personal and academic freedom. Please sign the petition below:

https://campaign.goingtowork.org.uk/petitions/defend-academic-freedom