Teaching About Terrorism: London Metropolitan University

Teaching About Terrorism is a 2009/10 research project funded by C-SAP, one of the Higher Education Academy's subject networks. The project aims to research the extent and nature of teaching about terrorism in UK Universities, primarily in the disciplines of Sociology, Politics and Criminology.

Freedom of Information Request 1

Q1 Does your institution provide any information or advice to students or staff on any potential liability under Terrorism legislation which might result from accessing materials for teaching or research ? If so please provide copies of any documents held which detail or refer to such information or advice.

No

Q2 Does your institution have any kind of procedure to review or assess reading lists, module descriptors or other teaching materials which explicitly or in practice considers questions of safety and risk under terrorism legislation as part of its remit ? For example does the institution have anything similar or analogous to the 'module review process' established at Nottingham University described here : http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=407122; http://www.teachingterrorism.net/2009/08/03/nottingham-censorship-a-defence; http://www.teachingterrorism.net/2009/08/06/is-vetting-at-nottingham-in-defence-of-academic-freedom If so please supply full details of this policy and procedure and advise when and how it was decided upon and implemented.

No

Q3 Does your institution have any system, policy or procedure in place for dealing with any potential actions taken by the authorities against the institution, its students or staff under Terrorism legislation ? If so please supply a copy of the policy and advise the date it was decided upon and implemented.

No

Q4 Does your institution have any system, policy or procedure in place for ‘preventing violent extremism’ as recommended for example in the government guidance document ‘Promoting Good Campus Relations’ http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/tna/+/http://www.dius.gov.uk/publications/extremismhe.pdf Please indicate what procedures or policy exist and advise when it was decided upon and implemented, and provide copies of any documents held which detail or refer to such policy or procedures.

The University has a range of initiatives and policies in place but these are integrated with other activities. For example we have a Chaplaincy Service which includes and Imam and which organises prayers held in a multi faith centre. The University also has in place procedures to ensure its obligations under the 1986 Act in respect of Freedom of Speech are upheld. The University actively promotes diversity and respect through its own volunteering activities and alongside the Students Union.

I attach and provide web links to illustrate. I should add that the University Imam is a Home Office adviser and that Bill Rammell twice visited the University as a prelude to issuing the guidance you refer to: https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/chaplaincy/home.cfm

Resources

• Freedom of Information Results, Teaching About Terrorism: FOI Results
• London Metropolitan University, Response to Teaching About Terrorism FOI 1, Scribd