De Montfort University has a proud record as a neutral platform where politicians and individuals of all political persuasions can debate the issues of the day.
One of the centres for these discussions during 2024 has been the university’s SDG Impact Hub, which houses regular Campus Collective events inviting participants to discuss a whole range of topics.
Events during 2024 have included a leading official from the United Nations discussing and answering questions on his life and work in Palestine.
An audience of Muslims and non-Muslims also heard from the university’s Imam on the reasons behind fasting at Ramadan and the challenges for followers of his faith.
An invited panel of speakers from all the main political parties during COP 29 in November also debated the challenges faced by the world on climate change.
Events have also been held to discuss massacres during the 1990s Balkan wars, the issues of knife crime, hate crime and political and social injustice.
The Head of the SDG Impact Hub, Dr Mark Charlton, said: “This university takes its role extremely seriously as a neutral platform and as a safe space for people of all political persuasions and none to come together and debate the issues facing the world.
“We would be neglecting our position as an open institution of learning if students, and the general public, were not made aware of the varying opinions on a wide range of topics.
“The university is ideally place to include the general public in our debates as we are city centre based and with a campus that is a main thoroughfare not to just students, but commuters, shoppers and visitors.”
Neutral platform for debates and discussions
The university has also staged a series of events during 2024 with speakers talking on a range of issues around Black History Month, Pride, and the increasing relevance in our lives of Artificial Intelligence.
The Stephen Lawrence Research Centre on the Leicester campus has also been an important venue for debates and discussions, particularly around the issues of race and hate crime.
The university’s policy on Freedom of Speech allows for open and frank discussion by all political stakeholders stating: “It shall not be a reasonable ground of refusal of permission or facilities for a meeting or like event that the views likely to be expressed there may be controversial or contrary to any policy of the University, the Students' Union, or Central or Local Government, provided the expression of such views is lawful.
“Expression of opinions which are annoying, offensive, in bad taste, or ill-mannered is not per se unlawful unless they amount to incitement to violence or incitement to racial hatred or they would otherwise constitute unlawful discrimination, or harassment and victimisation on the grounds of protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010.”
For more information on DMU's code of practice for freedom of speech see Chapter 13 Code of practice 2024-2025