Moved by
Lord Watson of Invergowrie
3: After Clause 1, insert the following new Clause—
“Institutional autonomy and academic freedom
(1) The Secretary of State, in issuing guidance and directions, and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, in performing its functions, have a duty to uphold the principle of institutional autonomy for English further education institutions.
(2) In this section “institutional autonomy” means—
(a) the autonomy of English further education institutions—
(i) to determine which courses to teach, the contents of particular courses and the manner in which they are taught, supervised and assessed,
(ii) to determine the criteria for the selection, appointment, promotion, remuneration, and dismissal of academic staff; and to apply those criteria in particular cases,
(iii) to determine the criteria for the admission of students and to apply those criteria in particular cases, and
(iv) to constitute and to govern themselves in a manner which they deem appropriate for their purposes, subject to legal requirements relating to the corporate form and purposes that they may adopt; and
(b) the freedom of academic staff within the law—
(i) to question and test received wisdom, and
(ii) to put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions, without placing themselves in jeopardy of losing jobs or any privileges they may have at an institution.
(3) All persons or bodies exercising powers under this Act are under a duty to protect the principle of academic freedom in accordance with subsection (2)(b).”