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UK Orders Universities to Act on Campus Antisemitism

Triggered by a deadly Manchester synagogue attack, the shift signals tougher oversight through training, funding, and regulator action.

Overview

  • Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson instructed vice-chancellors to take practical, proportionate steps to protect Jewish students and backed them to use their powers to tackle abuse.
  • The Department for Education is funding 600 staff training sessions delivered by the Union of Jewish Students and a £7 million program to teach young people to challenge online misinformation.
  • August rules requiring clear harassment policies and reporting mechanisms were reiterated as the baseline standards universities must meet.
  • The Office for Students warned it will intervene if institutions fail to uphold duties to prevent harassment, with director of free speech Arif Ahmed signaling readiness to act.
  • Universities were told to manage protests to ensure full student participation in campus life, including moving repeated demonstrations that become intrusive or disruptive, and a high-level roundtable with sector and community leaders is being arranged.