Teaching About Terrorism: University of the West of Scotland

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

• 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?

We do not have any University-wide materials. Student behaviour is covered by the University's policies including but not limited to its code of discipline and its policy for acceptable use of IT systems and we believe that the terms used in these policies are cast sufficiently widely to cover any aspects relevant to terrorism legislation. The Regulations and Policy can be found in our Publication Scheme at UWS Regulations Policy. Under the terms of the Act, a request for information can be refused where one or more exemptions listed in the Act apply. In this case the University is claiming an exemption under Section 25 of the Act, namely the information is otherwise accessible, e.g. in the Publication Scheme. With regards to staff the University commits itself to sustain an environment within which academic freedom can be effectively exercised while academic staff are bound by proper regard for their colleagues, for the University’s interests and by the usual rules of professional academic engagement within their discipline and within the University..

• 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?

We do not have any modules review process that explicitly mentions terrorism legislation. However all of our modules are subject to internal scrutiny by members of the Subject Development Group and our validation events also include external members. Reading lists are considered as part of the module approval process.

• 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?

The university cooperates fully with the police and other authorities in any inquiry they may have, including inquiries related to criminal or similar behaviour by its staff or students. In view of this, the University considers the risk of "potential actions taken by the authorities against the institution" to be minimal, and has not considered it necessary to have a policy to cover cooperation under terrorism legislation.

• 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’?

Again we do not use the words violent extremism but our Code of Discipline (Regulation 12 – see response to Q1 above) covers a number of circumstances including, inter alia, conduct which is a criminal offence, threatening or offensive behaviour, distributing or publishing any form of publication which is threatening, illegal or calculated to make others fearful, anxious or apprehensive, and harassment of any student or member of staff (including on grounds of religion or political belief). Our regulation does permit free expression which is within the law (12.2.1.13). Currently the revised Code of Discipline is going through the approval process. It goes before Senate for approval next month. Also we monitor the attendance of all research students and they are seen by their Director of Studies once a month, in response to a Borders Agency initiative. In addition the University takes account of the guidance supplied by the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) Promoting good campus relations, fostering shared values and preventing violent extremism in Universities and Higher Education Collegesa n d Promoting good campus relations: dealing with hate crimes and intolerance in relation to promoting good relations on campus and preventing unlawful activity (Good Campus Relations Update). The University has informal links with the Police divisions close to our four campuses and a Police Liaison Committee, which meets periodically, includes nominees from the relevant Police divisions. If you are not satisfied with the handling of your enquiry you have a right to review under the Act as laid out in the notices below.

Resources

• Freedom of Information Results, Teaching About Terrorism: FOI Results