English universities are facing a dilemma over their Confucius Institutes due to new free speech rules, sparking urgent discussions between government officials, university leaders, and regulators about the future of these China-backed language and culture centers.
Universities worry that recent regulations introduced by the Office for Students (OfS) could create legal conflicts with their Chinese partners, including the Beijing government, and may force some institutes to shut down.
University leaders say they’ve received little clarity from the OfS on whether they’re violating the new rules, which prevent foreign governments from influencing staff appointments at these institutes.
There are 20 Confucius Institutes in England—including at the universities of Manchester, Coventry, and Liverpool—each run as a partnership between a British university, a Chinese university, and a Chinese state-funded organization. While they offer Mandarin classes and cultural events, critics claim they also serve as a Trojan horse for Chinese influence in education.
The Department for Education (DfE) stated that while it welcomes international collaborations in higher education, such partnerships must comply with UK laws. Universities must assess whether their existing agreements restrict free speech and take action if necessary.
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith emphasized that universities should remain spaces for open debate and that foreign interference, including intimidation or harassment, would not be tolerated. The government is working with the OfS to protect free speech and prevent harassment on campuses.
China’s embassy in London did not respond to requests for comment.
The new OfS guidance may force universities to renegotiate their agreements with Confucius Institutes or face penalties for violating free speech rules—particularly those banning “ideological tests” for employment. Critics, such as UK-China Transparency, allege that Chinese staff at these institutes are vetted for their political views by the Communist Party.
The OfS stated that universities must ensure their partnerships uphold free speech and academic freedom. If they can’t, they must amend or terminate the agreements.
Several universities declined to comment publicly, but some have asked the OfS for more time to review their partnerships. Lancaster University, for example, said it is assessing the new guidance while reaffirming its commitment to free speech.
One university noted the situation is further complicated by the OfS’s refusal to specify which arrangements violate the rules.The new regulations would permit this. A Universities UK spokesperson, representing university leaders, stated: “UK universities strongly support free speech and academic freedom. They take their legal obligations seriously and work diligently to safeguard these essential rights, as outlined by the Office for Students.
“This commitment also applies to our international partnerships, which provide valuable economic and social benefits to the UK.”
