Government to increase protection of universities

The government will launch a new consultation to protect UK universities from security threats.

Deputy prime minister, Oliver Dowden, announced his intention last week to launch a consultation on measures to protect UK universities from national security threats posed by foreign states. 

Measures will also be focused on a small proportion of academic work, with a particular focus on research with potential dual uses in civilian and military life. 

Dowden said the announcement is "not about erecting fences [but] about balancing evolving threats and protecting the integrity and security" of British universities. 

The announcement was delivered during a security briefing with Vice Chancellors from 24 of the UK’s universities, including the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Imperial College London, and co-hosted by the Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan. 

It follows an internal government review of the national security threats facing the higher education sector, which concluded foreign states are targeting sensitive research.

The threat posed by foreign states was discussed by the director general of MI5 and chief executive officer of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) during a joint threat assessment. Vice Chancellors heard about the risks facing academia and ways institutions can protect leading research in partnership with the UK Government, benefitting academia and national security at the same time.

The consultation will explore proposals to protect cutting-edge technology under development in sensitive sectors that are being targeted by states stealing intellectual property to enhance their own economic and military capabilities. Due to launch this summer, the consultation will also consider measures to prevent institutions becoming dependent on foreign investment.

The scope of options under consideration includes exploring the feasibility of extending security clearance to key personnel within universities, funding options to develop research security capability within universities and supporting universities to make appropriate decisions on international research collaborations.

Vivienne Stern MBE, chief executive of Universities UK, said: "This consultation is an important next step, and we will gather views from all 142 universities in our membership to help Government develop the right approach, which allows us to balance the need to remain open to collaboration with the need to protect national and university interests."