Update from the Chair of the Higher Education Security Forum (HESF)

Last 31^st January 2024 the Higher Education Security Forum met. Updates on wider national security matters were shared from various government agencies. We heard how NPSA has released “Pride and Joy”, new awareness campaign. It includes implementation materials including a collaboration checklist and roundtable exercises for HE and the new Trusted Research Evaluation Framework. All available freely in their website. We also learn about the impact of the military end use control in the trade with China and that DSIT is working on a review of protections on academic research. The Atlantic Declaration commitment to consult on UK updating its export control regime will be launching shortly. Details to be shared closer to the time. We heard from the League of European Universities in Europe (LERU) the EU is launching a new initiative in security in academia as re-exports within the EU had always been challenge.

The chair of HEECA updated the forum on the roadmap of the coming six months: Strathclyde conference, improvements to the online training material and the workshop with EECARO. The building of relationships with US, Australia, and EU as well as with industry groups such as EGADD (Export Group for Aerospace Defence and Dual use). The intention of the creation of a national security subgroup within HEECA to engage with security classifications from Official and Above.

The Immediate Past Chair of ARMA updated the forum on the discussions with UKRI and funding bodies taken place since their last published report focusing on training materials and systems. Additionally, he heard that ARMA are in conversations with colleagues in the US on training on research security, and they have also been in Poland and Malaysia and they are running an event with Universities in Denmark shortly.

After this roundtable, forum discussed various matters. the white EU papers on dual use and the plans for Horizon are of particular interest for UK academia as our institutions collaborate with EU partners. There seems to be a lot of alignment with what UK has been doing. On NSI Act, the HE sector noted that the definitions within the synthetic biology and advance materials are problematic for been too wide in scope or not clear enough. ISU is looking into providing more guidance to highlight which aspect are of more concern and the refinement of some definitions is in progress. Another point that the HE sector noted was on the management of ATAS refusals which continues to be a problem for institutions. The sector would like to ensure consistency of practice which is currently not happening due to the lack of government guidance on the use of approved Global Talent Visa routes.

During the final section of the forum meeting, some questions raised from HE sector were discussed. The need for more national tools and training to ensure HE shift from compliance to culture in terms of research security and risk. The new materials from NPSA are hoped to help institutions with this move. Please let HEECA know how helpful these resources are to feedback to NPSA. Another question was on the outcome of the Integrated Review Refresh, Review of Protections for Higher Education and Academia, which was initiated in 2023. Once complete, findings and recommendations will be considered by Ministers and senior leaders over the coming month. Following this, outcomes will be shared with stakeholders who contributed to the Review.

Kind regards,

Dr Irene Barinaga-Rementeria Ramirez, Chair of HESF.