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University of Bradford – External Speaker, Due Diligence Guide

When completing the speaker details on the online registration form you are completing speaker due diligence. You need to consider if the speaker has a reputational risk to the University, Faculty or Directorate or to you as the event lead, as well as ensure they are legally permitted to speak on campus. 

Freedom of expression must be managed in a way that ensures balance of opinion whilst also ensuring that students, staff and visitors are not exposed to unlawful narratives of hate.  Where speakers cover sensitive or contentious topics, this must be carefully managed to ensure that a balance of informing and debating is provided without impacting on the rights of attendees.

External speakers should not:

  • Incite hatred or violence or call for actions that would break the law.
  • Encourage, glorify or promote acts of terrorism.
  • Gather or raise funds for external organisations without permission of the university.
  • Exhibit unlawful discrimination towards any individuals and/or their protected characteristics.

Tips for completing online registration form

Some tips for completing the online registration form include:

  1. Ensure you list all speakers who are attending your event. It may be that only one or two of your speakers invited present a risk for consideration. Only add comments relating to the speakers who present risk in the final box (as per the decision making matrix below). Explain any risk and how you will reduce it or why you think it is an acceptable risk.
  2. To check if a speaker has previously expressed any views or been affiliated with an organisation that expresses views that you feel may breach any University policy, we suggest you use more than one search engine and review the news filter. Most times you will find any articles relating to their legal status as speakers or to controversial events – if you are still unsure, please seek assistance from [email protected]. You may also wish to speak to relevant local organisations who may have more knowledge on the speaker. The university safeguarding lead can also check with the local safeguarding and prevent coordinators on your behalf.  You can also check to see if an organisation they are a member of, promote, support or raise money for is a proscribed organisation: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proscribed-terror-groups-or-organisations--2
  3. A title of an event may cause concern unnecessarily – please ensure the title of your event does not unintentionally cause controversy or upset. Consider if the title represents the purpose and content of your event. If your event title causes concern you will be contacted prior to the event taking place.
  4. If you feel your event may attract individuals/groups that could prevent your event running smoothly you may need to ask for security presence prior to the event so this can be assessed and monitored - e.g. social, political, economic or environmental activists. You need to ensure speaker and audience safety is considered at all times.
  5. If you feel that your event could attract a large media interest, large audience or controversy then please seek guidance where you feel unsure – always check rather than take risks prior to your event. Initially contact [email protected] for advice.
  6. If your speakers or exhibitors raise any issues/concerns then you will be contacted for further information including mitigation/justification as to why you feel your event is ok to continue to run so try to include as much detail as you can in your initial registration.

Decision making matrix

To help you with decision making we recommend using the matrix below.  If a speaker is felt to potentially meets the substantial or extreme category, then a review by the university safeguarding team must occur before the event can be approved.

Low

The topic of the talk or presentation is not controversial nor is it likely to be regarded as offensive by anyone. The speaker/organisation or guest is a known expert in their field and is not known to be controversial or to hold controversial views. Where the speaker represents a known local or national business or organisation (Google Open Check), that organisation has no controversial links or purpose.

Acceptable

The speaker/organisation/guest may hold a strong position/point of view on their topic, but this would not be regarded as controversial. The speaker /guest may not have a publicly established reputation in their field. The talk is unlikely to be regarded as controversial.

Moderate

The speaker/organisation and/or topic may be uncontroversial, but the event is open to non-students and staff, including the general public, and high numbers are likely to attend. OR The topic may be regarded as controversial by some, and this could be cause for concern even if attendance likely to be low.

Substantial

The speaker/guest/organisation and/or topic are controversial. There may be media attention. The speaker has been refused permission to speak at another institution before. Attendance at the event may/will be high.

Extreme

The speaker/guest/organisation and or topic are highly controversial and will definitely attract media attention. The speaker/guest has been refused permission to attend an event at UoB and/or other institutions before. High attendance is expected at the event. The speaker/guest and or topic may attract protest from other students or outside organisations.