University of Sussex’s record fine sparks confusion over freedom of speech rules

Vice-chancellors urge Office for Students to provide more clarity to protect students and academics from abuse

A ruling by the higher education regulator for England on freedom of speech breaches at the University of Sussex has sparked anxiety in the sector, as vice-chancellors scramble to review their policies to avoid potential violations.

Two weeks after the Office for Students (OfS) handed out a record 585,000 fine, many university leaders are still not clear what it means in practice.