In this episode Smita Jamdar and David Browne discuss the issue of protected beliefs, their intersection with other protected characteristics and with broader concepts such as freedom of speech and academic freedom, and why managing them on cam

The learnings from a tragedy: part 2

Feb 27th, 2024 22m 57s

Content Warning - in this episode, Smita Jamdar and Geraldine Swanton discuss the High Court’s conclusions on the appeal in the case of Natasha Abrahart –v- the University of Bristol and includes references to death by suicide and mental health

Things to look out for in 2024

Jan 24th, 2024 21m 16s

In this episode, Smita Jamdar is joined by colleagues Helen Dyke and Mark Taylor to look ahead to developments in law, policy and regulation that will affect HE and FE institutions in the year ahead, including new family and caring rights to le

The risky business of handling student sexual misconduct cases

Nov 29th, 2023 21m 12s

In this episode Smita Jamdar and Geraldine Swanton examine a recent County Court judgment that concluded that the handling of a sexual misconduct case by a HEI was negligent.Find out more or get in contact with our education team here.

The challenges of dealing with sexual misconduct cases

Aug 30th, 2023 18m 54s

In this episode Smita Jamdar and Geraldine Swanton review recent case law relating to the investigation and hearing of student disciplinary procedures involving sexual misconduct, explore some of the difficulties this creates for institutions

Collaboration in HE: Managing the Risks

Jun 29th, 2023 19m 38s

In this episode Smita Jamdar and Joanna Forbes discuss the rise of collaborative provision in higher education, explore the legal, policy and regulatory implications and consider how institutions can mitigate risk.Find out more or get in contac

Financial challenges in the HE sector – considerations for Boards

Apr 28th, 2023 16m 50s

In this podcast, Smita Jamdar and Sean Moran reflect on how Boards should respond to a variety of risks caused by a challenging economic environment, from key supplier failure and subsidiary insolvency through to the insolvency of providers the

Consumer protection, PhD students and IP rights: where are we now?

Mar 15th, 2023 18m 13s

In this episode Smita Jamdar and Andrew Hartshorn consider the case of Oxford University Innovation v Oxford Nanoimaging Limited [2022] EWHC 3200 (Pat), the extent to which PhD students are considered as consumers under the various consumer pro

Freedom of speech on campus revisited

Jan 17th, 2023 13m 44s

In this episode, Smita Jamdar is joined by Andrew Adams, Litigation Partner, to further explore the freedom of speech on campus, specifically enforcing the rights on disgruntled students and staff, both by the current legislative framework and

Student-self harm and the law

Nov 10th, 2022 18m 49s

Content Warning - in this episode, Smita Jamdar and Geraldine Swanton are discussing HEIs’ current legal duties and the inherent limitations of any existing or new law to address the concerns of those who are affected by student self-harm.Find

Key issues for University and College governance

Sep 23rd, 2022 17m 58s

In this group discussion episode, Smita Jamdar is joined by members of our firm's governance forum - Joanna Forbes, Catherine Rustomji, Maddie Cordes, and Rachel Gwynne who look at some of the key issues for university and college governance t

Freedom of speech

Jun 21st, 2022 11m 2s

In this episode, Smita Jamdar looks at the recent developments relating to freedom of speech, academic freedom and the government's flagship legislation to protect the Higher Education Freedom of Speech bill.

The learnings from a tragedy

May 26th, 2022 20m 25s

Content Warning - in this episode, Smita Jamdar and Geraldine Swanton are discussing a judgment handed down in Bristol County Court in a really sad case involving the tragic suicidal death of a student, Natasha Abrahart. This case gives us som

Challenging culture

Mar 24th, 2022 18m 28s

In this episode, Smita Jamdar and Tom Long discuss the new guide issued by universities UK published earlier this month about challenging culture and tackling sexual misconduct within higher education.Find out more about our education team here

What makes universities and colleges attractive targets for cyber criminals?

Feb 17th, 2022 19m 18s

[S1:Ep7] - In this episode, Smita Jamdar speaks to Mike Wills, Director of Strategy & Policy at cyber security company CSS Assure about the serious threats universities and colleges face and what they can do to protect themselves from cyber-att

A year in review & looking ahead

Dec 21st, 2021 18m 56s

[S1:Ep6] - In this episode, Smita Jamdar is joined by Geraldine Swanton, Joanna Forbes and Tom Long to discuss a range of issues that affected the sector in 2021 and their hopes (or fears) for the sector in 2022. This wide ranging discussion i

To pay or not to pay: Governors’ Remuneration

Nov 29th, 2021 14m 2s

[S1:Ep5] - In this episode, Smita Jamdar and Joanna Forbes discuss the question of remuneration of university and college governors, a long running debate in the sector. We consider the motivation for paying governors and the legal constraints

Line of duty

Oct 20th, 2021 12m 14s

[S1:Ep4] - In this episode, Smita Jamdar and Geraldine Swanton consider the question of the duty of care owed by universities to their students. Although a legally flexible and responsive concept, the duty of care nonetheless has its limits. Ho

Amendments to the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill

Sep 17th, 2021 16m 3s

[S1:Ep3] - In this podcast, Smita Jamdar and David Browne discuss the tranche of amendments that are currently being debated by the Public Bill Committee in relation to the higher education Freedom of Speech bill, specifically relating to the d

Mandatory vaccines, student protection and the Turing Scheme

Aug 19th, 2021 14m 19s

[S1:Ep1] - In episode one of our Going Further & Higher podcast, Smita Jamdar and Geraldine Swanton look at Mandatory vaccines, student protection problems & the Turing Scheme.Find out more about our education team here.

Admissions Special – over-recruitment, under-recruitment and number caps

Aug 19th, 2021 16m 39s

[S1: Ep2] - 2021 was another atypical admissions cycle, with record numbers of students meeting their conditional offers. Smita Jamdar and Catherine Savage discuss the legal and regulatory ramifications for universities. Those institutions that

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