Educational Institutions

(asked on 13th March 2019) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will bring forward legislative proposals to require transparency from and ensure that Confucius Institutes and other foreign institutions are not able to hold undue influence, whether political, ideological or religious, on the curriculum and teaching practices of British institutions.


Answered by
 Portrait
Mark Field
This question was answered on 18th March 2019

We have read the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission’s report with interest and note its conclusion.

The UK values its relationship with China, and recognises that education has an important role to play in providing opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration and partnerships between the two countries. Universities are autonomous institutions and can choose who they cooperate with, including whether to partner with Chinese Higher Education Institutions or Confucius Institutes.

We encourage UK Higher education providers to work with international partners, including from China. However, providers have duties to ensure that in doing so, freedom of expression is protected for students and staff, and that the academic freedoms of their staff are protected, by taking reasonable steps to ensure debates and discussions can go ahead.

The government, with the support of key stakeholders in the higher education sector, has worked alongside the Equalities and Human Rights Commission to produce new guidance ‘Freedom of Expression: A Guide for Higher Education Providers and Students’ Unions in England and Wales’.

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