1.1 The School of Pan African Studies (‘the School’) is committed to the pursuit of truth, epistemic justice, and the decolonization of knowledge. We believe that a radical, African-centered education requires an environment where all members of our community can challenge dominant Eurocentric narratives and engage in robust, intellectual debate.1.2 This policy sets out the School’s legal duties and practical arrangements to ensure and promote freedom of speech and academic freedom, in accordance with the Education (No. 2) Act 1986, the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, and the Human Rights Act 1998.

 

2.1 Every individual at the School (including staff, students, and visiting speakers) has the right to express their ideas and opinions within the law, even if those opinions are controversial, unpopular, or offensive to some.2.2 The School will take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured. This includes ensuring that the use of School premises (including online platforms) is not denied to any individual or body on any ground connected with their beliefs, views, or objectives.

 

3.1 Academic freedom is the right of academic staff to question and test received wisdom and to put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions without placing themselves at risk of:

 

• Losing their jobs or privileges at the School;
• Having their promotion or career development prospects reduced.3.2 The School values the diversity of Pan-African thought and protects the right of scholars to critique existing geopolitical frameworks and advocate for transformative African development models.

 

4.1 The School encourages the invitation of external speakers to enrich our curriculum. 4.2 Organizers of events (whether physical or virtual) must notify the Dean or Registrar at least 14 days in advance. 4.3 Permission for an event will only be refused or restricted if:

 

• The speech is likely to be unlawful (e.g., inciting violence, hatred, or breaching the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015/Prevent duty);
• There are significant, unmanageable risks to public safety or order;
• The event would breach the School’s duty to protect students from harassment (as defined by the Equality Act 2010).4.4 Any restrictions imposed must be proportionate and necessary to comply with the law.

 

5.1 In line with the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, the School will not enter into any agreement that prohibits an individual from disclosing information about sexual misconduct, abuse, or harassment, or any other matter that would restrict their legal right to free speech.

 

6.1 Any member of the School community who believes their freedom of speech or academic freedom has been restricted contrary to this policy may raise a complaint through the Student Complaints Procedure or Staff Grievance Policy.6.2 External speakers may also submit a complaint directly to the Board of Governors if they believe their right to speak has been unlawfully restricted.

 

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Board of Governors to ensure it remains compliant with evolving UK legislation and the School’s mission.

 

2.1. Freedom of Speech: The right to express ideas, opinions, and information of all kinds, within the limits of the law, without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.

 

2.2. Academic Freedom: The freedom of academic staff at the School:

• To question and test received wisdom;
• To put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions;
• To challenge colonial and neo-colonial paradigms;
• To carry out research and publish the results thereof,

 

without placing themselves at risk of losing their jobs or privileges they may have at the School, or reducing the possibility of their promoting or graduating from the School.

 

3.1. This policy applies to:

 

• All registered students of the School;
• All employees of the School (academic and non-academic);
• Members of the Governing Body;
• Visiting scholars, guest lecturers, and external speakers;
• Individuals or organizations renting or using the School’s digital or physical facilities.

 

4.1. The School shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured for its members, students, and visiting speakers.

 

4.2. This includes the right to challenge the status quo, to engage in decolonial critique, and to advocate for Pan-African geopolitical and economic objectives, provided such speech does not cross the threshold into unlawful conduct.

 

4.3. The School will not deny the use of its facilities (digital or physical) to any individual or body on any ground connected with their beliefs, views, or objectives, provided those views are expressed within the law.

 

4.4. The School maintains that “intellectual safety”—the desire to be protected from ideas that one finds offensive, shocking, or disturbing—is not a valid ground for the suppression of free speech or the “no-platforming” of speakers, provided the speech remains legal.

 

5.1. Academic freedom is essential to the School’s curriculum, which is industry-aligned and focused on African development, politics, philosophy, and economics.

 

5.2. Academic staff have the freedom to design curricula and conduct research that prioritizes African knowledge systems and explores the political project of a sovereign, borderless, socialist United States of Africa.

 

5.3. The School will protect academic staff from institutional censorship when their research or teaching challenges dominant global narratives or critiques the historical and contemporary impact of external interventions in Africa.

 

6.1. Freedom of speech and academic freedom are not absolute and are subject to the laws of the United Kingdom. Speech that constitutes any of the following is not protected under this policy:

• Incitement to violence or terrorism;
• Harassment as defined by the Equality Act 2010;
• Stirring up racial or religious hatred;
• Defamation;
• Breach of confidence or data protection violations;
• Speech that poses a genuine threat to public order or safety.

 

6.2. All members of the School community are expected to show respect for the rights of others to hold differing views. While the School encourages robust and passionate debate, it expects such debate to be conducted in an atmosphere of mutual intellectual inquiry.

 

7.1. To fulfill its legal obligations, the School requires that any event (online or in-person) involving an external speaker be notified to the Administration at least 14 days in advance.

 

7.2. The School will only cancel or refuse to host an event if it determines, following a risk assessment, that the speech likely to occur will be unlawful or that the safety of participants cannot be guaranteed.

 

7.3. The School may impose conditions on an event (e.g., requiring an independent chair, allowing for a Q&A session, or recording the proceedings) to ensure that the requirements of the law and this policy are met.

 

7.4. Decisions regarding the restriction of speech or the cancellation of events will be made by the Founder or a designated senior officer and will be communicated in writing with reasons provided.

 

8.1. No student shall be disadvantaged in their assessments or progression based solely on the lawful exercise of their freedom of speech, even if their views contradict the prevailing intellectual orientation of the School.

 

8.2. No staff member shall be subject to disciplinary action or dismissal for the lawful exercise of academic freedom as defined in Section 2.2.

 

9.1. Any member of the School who believes that their freedom of speech or academic freedom has been restricted in violation of this policy may submit a complaint via the Student Complaints Procedure or the Staff Grievance Policy.

 

9.2. Furthermore, individuals may have the right to escalate complaints regarding freedom of speech to the Office for Students (OfS) under the Free Speech Complaints Scheme, once internal remedies have been exhausted.

 

10.1. This policy shall be reviewed annually by the Governing Body to ensure compliance with the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 and other evolving regulatory requirements.

 

10.2. The School will maintain a record of all decisions to deny or impose conditions on events to ensure transparency and accountability.

 

 

Date of Policy: February 26, 2026

Review Date: February 26, 2027

Approved by: Nigel Stewart, Co-Founder