UK to Bolster University Security Against Foreign Threats

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden announces a series of meetings and reviews to address vulnerabilities in the higher education sector due to foreign influences.

• Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, has expressed concerns over the vulnerability of UK universities to exploitation by foreign states, particularly in sensitive research areas.
• A government review has prompted plans for a Cobra briefing with university vice-chancellors to discuss the security of the higher education sector.
• The review highlights the risks associated with foreign funding and the potential for intellectual property theft or coercion.
• Proposed measures include increasing transparency in university funding and consulting on the security of researchers in sensitive sectors.
• Dowden emphasized the need for a balance between academic freedom and national security, citing the UK's open academic environment as both a strength and a vulnerability.

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