A new “expert adviser” on antisemitism in higher education who “commands respect in both universities and the Jewish community” is to be introduced by the Westminster government.
Universities minister Robert Halfon also says that a new “quality seal” for universities will require universities to demonstrate training on antisemitism, effective communication with Jewish students and robust and effective complaints processes.
He will ask the Office for Students (OfS) to log cases of antisemitism and harassment and monitor how they were dealt with, and will fund a multi-million pound project to get the charter implemented.
It’s not clear whether that quality mark will go further than, or even be related to, OfS’ proposed standards on provider prevention and handling of harassment. And a central case logging approach is interesting – because OfS has consistently resisted calls to do that in the past.
