Universities will have to tell government how they are combating extremists on campus

Universities will have to provide the government with annual reports outlining their measures they are taking to keep hate speakers off campus.

A report published today by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) outlined a framework for monitoring higher education institutions which have had to implement the government counter-terrorism Prevent strategy since September this year.

Under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act each university is responsible for setting up risk assessment for external speakers and events as well as providing training for staff to respond to signs of radicalisation in students.

According to the government’s Extremism Analysis Unit, at least 70 events featuring hate speakers occurred on campuses last year. Queen Mary, King’s College, SOAS and Kingston University held most events.