Latest news with #EdwardPeck
Telegraph
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Freedom of speech on campus is ‘absolutely crucial', says favourite to head universities watchdog
Universities must defend freedom of speech on campuses, the likely future leader of England's higher education watchdog has said. Prof Edward Peck, nominated to be the chairman of the Office for Students (OfS), said the watchdog would take 'robust regulatory action' under his leadership if universities do not secure or promote free speech. During a pre-appointment hearing before the education select committee, Prof Peck also said it was important that universities provide students with materials on anti-Semitism in their induction. The outgoing Nottingham Trent University vice-chancellor added that some events over the past 18 months have not made Jewish students feel 'safe and secure' on campus. Initially, Labour halted the implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, passed under the previous Conservative government in 2023. Since, the Government has decided to push ahead with protecting free speech at universities in key legislation. In January, Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, said the Act would impose a duty on universities to secure and 'promote' freedom of speech. Prof Peck, who was named last week as Ms Phillipson's preferred candidate to lead the OfS, told MPs he believes the amended freedom of speech legislation 'gets the balance right'. Asked how important the OfS's role is in defending freedom of speech on campuses, Prof Peck told MPs: 'I think it's absolutely crucial. 'Universities, colleges and other providers should be places where ideas can be explored, examined, challenged, or disagreement can be facilitated. Where new viewpoints can be discovered. 'It's crucial – without that I don't think we'd have a university sector which would be the envy of the world as it is now. So that's my starting point.' He added: 'As chair, I want to make sure we take robust regulatory action if we find that the code of practice of institutions has not been followed, and that complaints from staff or visiting speakers are justified.' 'Take robust action' Asked what the OfS would do if there was a protest on a campus at a university in the UK in which students had said 'from the river to the sea' and called for an 'intifada', Prof Peck said: 'I'd expect that university to take robust action to investigate those accusations, and, if they were found to be upheld, to take action in line with their own disciplinary processes.' He added: 'It's very important that every student feels safe and secure and respected as they study on campus, and some of the activities over the last 18 months have not always, I think, made, particularly Jewish, students feel that. 'It's really important that universities work with the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of anti-Semitism. 'It's really important they include some Union of Jewish Students materials in their induction for students so people understand what anti-Semitism is, how to recognise it, and how sometimes to recognise it in yourself as well as in others.'
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Independent broadcaster to shut down after 10 years
Independent broadcaster Notts TV is to close down after more than a decade, it has been announced. Nottingham Trent University (NTU), which runs the local news channel, confirmed on Monday it would not be seeking to renew its licence from communications regulator Ofcom. It means Notts TV's current licence will expire in November this year, at which point the channel would shut down. The university, which is the main funder of the broadcaster, said "the numbers involved have been too small to warrant continued investment". The local news outlet, covering Nottingham and the wider county, has been running since 2014. In a notice to colleagues, the university's vice-chancellor Prof Edward Peck - who announced his upcoming departure from the position in January - said: "In November 2025, Notts TV's broadcasting licence will be up for renewal. "This has provided NTU with an opportunity to consider if Notts TV delivers sufficient benefit to its students at a time when all organisations in and around the public sector are operating with constrained budgets. "Whilst students who have had placements with Notts TV have gained significant real work experience, the numbers involved have been too small to warrant continued investment." The university said it hoped other organisations would submit their own proposals to Ofcom "to continue focused local broadcasting and pick up the baton that NTU has been holding aloft since May 2014". Interim chairman of Notts TV Mike Sassi said the channel looked forward to "bringing you the best of what we do over the next few months" and thanked its supporters. "We're incredibly proud of everything Notts TV has achieved over the last decade," he said. "We've also helped to launch hundreds of careers in media across Britain and beyond with our industry training, and help power to account by hosting the BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service," he added. A spokesperson for Ofcom said: "The statutory deadline for all local TV services to apply for their renewal is 31 March 2025. "If an existing licensee decided not to apply to renew their licence, Ofcom would need to consider whether it would be appropriate to complete a competitive re-licensing process to provide an opportunity for a new service to apply for a local TV licence in that specific area. "We will only take this decision once the renewal application window has closed and we have the full information regarding which licensees have applied for renewal or not." Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Nottingham Trent University Notts TV
