TEQSA announces its expectations on dealing with antisemitism. They must be met by New Year’s Day. And responsibility is at the top, “governing bodies are ultimately responsible for ensuring effective implementation and embedding of responses.”
All HE providers should adopt either the Universities Australia definition (for preference) or that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. The case for UA’s is that “consistent adoption of the same definition across the sector would facilitate shared understandings and academic engagement by scholars across different higher education institutions.”
But whichever they prefer, adopt a definition they must, to meet the Threshold Standards on “governance, academic freedom and student and staff wellbeing.”
“The definition should enable the provider to set expectations about what does and what does not constitute racism in scholarship and conduct, and also to apply the definition in grievance, complaints and conduct policies when allegations of antisemitism arise.”
The Regulator also requires:
- Integrating the definition adopted into “processes, plans and procedures to prevent and respond to racism”
- The governing body oversighting potential contradictions/conflicts between the definition and “other institutional obligations,” including academic freedom, freedom of speech and an institution’s statutes and rules
- Consultation on the adopted definition
- Work over time, to, “effectively prevent and respond to racism,” including organisational culture and “expectations for academic freedom in scholarship”
- Setting responsibility for investigating/deciding on allegations of antisemitism
- Regular reports to the governing body and training for its members plus staff and students.
“TEQSA will monitor compliance with these expectations and may require individual providers to provide information on their compliance with the Threshold Standards in relation to adopting and implementing a definition of antisemitism,” the Agency warns.