Free speech director says regulator has met with vice-chancellors as new complaints scheme set to launchThe Office for Students has been “carefully reflecting” on its approach to protecting freedom of speech in English higher education, its free speech tsar has said. “In many cases this work has helped to resolve a number of potentially complex free speech issues without the need for further regulatory action. The complaints scheme rules state that staff, visiting speakers and others—including emeritus professors—can make a complaint to the OfS if they believe their free speech rights have been infringed. Students cannot use the scheme but can continue to make free speech complaints via the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education. “The complaints scheme offers an important route to resolution where staff, visiting speakers and others have their free speech rights constrained,” Ahmed said.