(MENAFN) Beginning Friday, universities and colleges across England risk financial penalties if they fail to safeguard free speech, as sweeping legal protections for academic freedom take effect.

The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act establishes a binding obligation for institutions of higher learning to actively uphold academic freedom. The law is designed to protect the rights of faculty, students, and visiting speakers to express legally permissible views without the threat of censorship.

In addition, the legislation outlaws the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases involving bullying, harassment, or sexual misconduct on campus.

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith stated: "Academic freedom is non-negotiable in our world-leading institutions, and we will not tolerate the silencing of academics or students who voice legitimate views."

“These strengthened protections make this explicitly clear in law, and the record fine already handed down by the OfS has put universities on notice that they must comply or face the consequences,” she continued.

Under the new framework, the Office for Students (OfS) will operate an independent complaints mechanism. This allows lecturers, university employees, and guest speakers to report violations related to free speech, which could prompt investigations and potential monetary sanctions against non-compliant universities.

Students will also have the option to escalate their concerns to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, a separate watchdog body.

Student unions will now fall under the scope of these stricter guidelines, with universities held accountable for ensuring their union activities adhere to free speech requirements.

Separately, measures aimed at increasing transparency around foreign involvement in higher education remain under evaluation, as the government assesses how these rules interact with the newly launched foreign influence registration scheme.

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