New rules for universities on protecting freedom of speech should not prevent them from promoting equality and diversity on campuses, according to Arif Ahmed.?

The director for freedom of speech and academic freedom at the Office for Students (OfS) said the regulator has ¡°no intention of discouraging¡± equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives as universities prepare for the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act to come into force at the beginning of August.

Ahmed¡¯s comments came as Donald Trump¡¯s administration continued to crack down on diversity initiatives in the US, including slashing government funding for any research projects deemed to be linked to these.

In the UK, the incoming regulations have stoked fears that they could be used for similar purposes.

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But, speaking at a Westminster Higher Education Forum event on 26 June, Ahmed said it is ¡°absolutely right¡± that universities support EDI.?

¡°What we do think is that it¡¯s possible to do so in ways that are entirely consistent with freedom of speech duties,¡± he continued.?

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In guidance related to the new laws recently released by the OfS, the regulator provides examples of what is and isn¡¯t acceptable.?

In one case?cited, a hypothetical university requires all candidates for academic promotion to submit a statement of evidence of commitment to EDI.?

The guidance warns that doing so ¡°may be restricting the lawful expression of certain viewpoints¡±.

¡°A lecturer might be sceptical of some aspects of EDI and may be deterred from applying for promotion, or may be refused promotion, as a result,¡± it says, advising universities to remove this requirement.?

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It goes on to say that initiatives that encourage applications from under-represented races to apply for promotion, such as inviting members of those groups to special events related to promotion, are unlikely to be in breach of regulations,?as long as all applicants for promotion are evaluated solely on merit.?

Earlier this year, the University of Sussex received a record fine from the regulator for failing to uphold its free speech requirements.?

The OfS guidance was published seven weeks before the new laws come into force.? released after they were shared, Alex Proudfoot, chief executive of Independent Higher Education, said the document had been ¡°delivered too late¡±.

However, Ahmed sought to reassure institutions that the regulator understands some aspects will ¡°take time to develop and to do properly¡±.?

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¡°We recognise this guidance has come out when it has,¡± he said.?

While universities should already be securing freedom of speech under existing legislation, he added: ¡°We do understand that it may take time to develop additional training and indeed to roll it out, for instance, to new students in time?for the start of the new academic year.¡±?

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helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com