UK universities urged to challenge students with ideas that “shock or offend”
LONDON, UK — June 19, 2025 Universities in England are being urged to expose students to ideas that may “shock or offend” them as part of a drive to safeguard free speech and foster intellectual resilience on campus. Arif Ahmed, the Office for Students’ (OfS) inaugural director for freedom of speech, has warned of a “persistent and widespread” culture of censorship within higher education—often subtle and systemic—which disproportionately impacts vulnerable and minority voices.
Ahmed, a Cambridge philosophy professor, emphasized that students should expect discomfort during their academic journey, noting that genuine learning often arises through confrontation with challenging or unpopular perspectives. Reflecting on his own experience with complaints over his comments, he underscored that while such incidents may be uncomfortable, they serve a crucial educational purpose.
Under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, passed in 2023 and coming fully into force in 2025, universities and students’ unions are legally required to uphold and actively protect lawful speech on campus. The legislation empowers the OfS and the Office of the Independent Adjudicator to investigate complaints and impose penalties—including fines—on institutions that fail to comply.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has reinforced this stance, asserting that academic freedom must not be curtailed by student sensitivities. The new framework aims to ensure that universities become arenas for robust debate, where students engage with a wide spectrum of ideas, regardless of how controversial they may seem.