Graduates

Universities and colleges encouraged to take further action to tackle violent extremism and promote cohesion.

The Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo) has released a report identifying steps that universities and further education colleges should take to prevent the growth of violent extremism amongst students and to promote more cohesive local communities.

The report ‘Promoting community cohesion and preventing violent extremism in higher and further education’ commends universities and colleges for tackling violent extremism in a number of ways and provides good practice case studies. It highlights the key contribution of universities and colleges to the prevention of violent extremism through:

• teaching and research;
• the creation of safe spaces for debate;
• the provision of effective student welfare support services;
• the promotion of citizenship and community cohesion within their local areas.

It recommends that more work is done to consolidate this activity and that further action is taken, including:

• having clear policies and procedures in place to prevent violent extremism and protect students vulnerable to radicalisation and recruitment;
• setting up an academic task force to advise universities and academics on research and teaching on terrorism;
• local authorities and police forces, which lead local reponses to preventing violent extremism, working with the institutions to engage with students on relevant issues.

The report also looks at the role of universities and colleges in promoting community cohesion, within and beyond the campus and their effectiveness in implementing the ‘safe college’ agenda.

It recommends that universities and further education colleges take a broad approach to promoting cohesion within and beyond the campus and that  university and college management and students should work together to limit any negative impact on local communities including that arising from alcohol.

The research for the report was carried out with the assistance of Universities UK (UUK) and the Association of Colleges (AOC).

Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive of UUK, said:

“The report adds a new and important dimension to the debate.  I am sure our members will want to consider carefully its sensible recommendations.”

Joy Mercer, Director of Policy (Education) at the Association of Colleges, commented that:

“This report supports the good practice in colleges and will help through its recommendations to encourage cooperation within communities.”

Report author Harris Beider said:

“Universities and colleges clearly understand the role that all individuals and institutions have in doing whatever they can to prevent violent extremism.  But they need to balance an approach that is effective with protecting their academic independence. The recommendations of this report should help them to take an independent and proactive approach to protecting students from violent extremism and vulnerability to radicalisation.”

John Hayes, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, said:

“Preventing violent extremism on campus is a vital responsibility that is shared between institutions, the Government and civil society. We warmly welcome iCoCo’s report and will use its findings as we review the Prevent strategy.

“Government and the sector must work more closely to ensure the scale and nature of the threats we face are understood and that those responsible for the wellbeing of learners are fully able to minimise extremist activity, so that we enjoy cohesive and secure campuses.”

The report was funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and researched and written by Professor Harris Beider and Rachel Briggs, on behalf of the Coventry University-based Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo).

A full copy of the report is available here

About the project

The Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo) was commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to conduct a review of ‘campus relations’, community cohesion and the prevention of violent extremism (the ‘Prevent’ agenda) within further and higher education sectors. The project started in January 2009 and the research phase concluded in November 2009

 

About iCoCo

iCoCo was established in 2005 to provide a new approach to race, diversity and multiculturalism. Its work focuses on building positive and harmonious community relations, using applied research to constantly develop practice and to build capacity of all the agencies and individuals involved.

iCoCo represents a unique partnership of academic, statutory and non-governmental bodies, combines the experience and expertise of a number of universities, including Coventry – with practitioners from a range of diverse backgrounds and professions.