Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech (Online Course)

Description:

This training module provides an introduction to the concepts of 'Freedom of Speech' and 'Academic Freedom' at the University of Nottingham.

It explains the rights and responsibilities of members of our community in relation to freedom of speech and academic freedom. It sets out how the university secures these, and how they relate to other matters, like the Public Sector Equality Duty.


Learning outcomes:

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the concepts of freedom of speech and academic freedom in the university context.
• Recognise the importance of protecting lawful speech, including speech that may be controversial, offensive or uncomfortable.
• Understand that these rights are not absolute and that some speech or expression may lawfully be restricted.
• Locate the University’s Code of Practice and follow the appropriate route for raising concerns or seeking advice relating to freedom of speech and academic freedom.

Who is this training for:

All staff at the university. 

This is an introductory awareness course and does not replace role-specific training or specialist advice for colleagues whose roles involve decisions that may affect freedom of speech or academic freedom.

Course Duration:
Approximately 20 minutes – progress will be recorded so the module can be completed over multiple sessions.

Frequency:
This training should be completed every 24 months.

Please contact: freespeech@nottingham.ac.uk for any content queries

Please contact: br-stafflearning@nottingham.ac.uk for any technical issues

Here are some key resources which are linked to this training module. The module will include links to those resources, but you may find it easier to look at them in advance / separately to ease navigation and focus on the module activities. 

Useful links

Report and Support portal
Condition E6 Compliance (Nottingham.ac.uk)
Code of practice on freedom of speech
University webpage for academic freedom and freedom of speech
Office for Students guide to free speech for students