The British government on Tuesday published its updated antiterrorism strategy, and made clear that it expects universities and other higher-education institutions to do more to combat radicalism and extremism. The update of the strategy, known as Prevent, expresses concern “that some universities and colleges have failed to engage in Prevent” and says that “this lack of engagement must be addressed.” Higher-education administrators and faculty members “should have access to support if they suspect one of their students may be becoming radicalized,” the report says, and the government plans to help institutions “improve their capacity in this area, training staff to recognize the signs of radicalization and helping them improve their awareness of the help that is available.”

In its response to the government’s publication of the strategy, Universities UK, which represents the vice chancellors of all British universities, issued a statement emphasizing that “as a matter of law universities have to allow views which are not violent to be expressed and challenged, however offensive they may be” and pointing out that, with more than 40 percent of young people taking part in higher education, “care must be taken when making sweeping statements about the link between people attending university and becoming radicalized.”