Include Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech in University Rankings

Published  Letter – The Times-Tuesday 29 October  2019
Sir, The growing influence of Beijing and its apologists on freedom of speech and academic freedom in our universities is well noted in your leading article (“Safer Spaces”, Oct 28). Freedom of speech is important in all settings but especially in universities, where education and learning are advanced through dialogue and debate, however uncomfortable it may be.
Universities could be held to account in this area via university league tables. A new measure should be introduced in the rankings that assesses how effective universities are at protecting freedom of speech and academic freedom. Given that some of the top-ranked international universities have poor reputations for defending these freedoms, it would refocus universities’ minds on their role in protecting these, as well as on the consequences of a failure to do so.
Patrick Watson
London SW8