News from the Department of Education
Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 update
This update received Royal Assent on 11 May 2023 although the majority of its provisions are not yet in force, but may be very soon.
About the new legislation
The new legislation will strengthen the legal requirements on universities and colleges in relation to free speech and academic freedom, and the Office for Students' regulatory role.
Read the full legislation changes...
Why Terrorism Studies Miss the Mark When It Comes To Incels
When news broke of an ‘incel’ (involuntarily celibate) terrorist attack in Plymouth, England on 13 August, media coverage of the perpetrator and explanations for his motive quickly went viral. Academics tracking the shooter’s online activity provided further information of his digital footprint, which indicates an interest in incel subcultures, while the UK Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation linked to a report referencing 'Inceldom' as a potential terrorism category. Others rightly pointed out the problematic issue of the shooter being given back his gun license last month, after it had been previously revoked following an allegation of assault. Initially, it was contested whether the attack qualifies as terrorism, but after police reviewed the case, it has been reclassified as incel terrorism.
Read the full article...
‘Cultic’ Religious Groups: Order of Nine Angles
Cults and Online Violent Extremism, seems to be comprised of three ideal-typical groupings of online cultic activity. These can glorify and inspire violent extremisms:
- ‘Cultic’ Religious Groups
- ‘Online Cultic Milieus’
- ‘Cultic Fandoms’.
This article provides an overview of this first category: ‘Cultic’ Religious Groups. 'Cultic Religious Groups' are a category that is intended to focus attention on the online element of religious groups that may also have established offline presences. 'Cultic Religious Groups' tend to include older, primarily offline religious traditions that move into the online space. These groups may have had problematic offline aspects before moving to online spaces, seeking safe-haven through relative anonymity. In many ways, interactions in online environments have also created new ways that individuals, who might be prone to violent extremism, interact with these ideologies, practices and networks.
Learn more...
Coventry student guilty of making IS chemical weapon drone.
See more...
Police arrest man over 'threats' to schools in Leeds and Bradford.
Check out this article...
National Do Something Nice Day
5th October - Today
National do something nice day, is fairly self explanatory. However, in the spirit of 'National Do Something Nice Day' we are delighted to encourage you to do something nice for someone else. Whether that is:
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Spontaneously bringing some flowers home for your partner
- Visit your grandparents for a catch up and a cup of tea
- Grab lunch for a colleague
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Give someone a lift somewhere
- Hold the elevator door for someone
- Give someone a hug
- Smile and wave
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Tell someone they're great
- Help an old lady across the street
IT doesn't matter! It's simply the concept of doing something nice for someone else. It doesn't even need to be limited to today, do it every day! You may notice that you get a little sense of joy from seeing someone else smile, it's hardwired into our brains to reward positive social behaviour; and we could go into the science, but we're not going to! The simple principal is...
Try doing something nice for someone else, it may just make your day better in return.
United Nations Day
24th October
The United Nations. An organization that is well known to just about everyone around the world. This organisation participate in activities ranging from assistance in times of disaster, both those coming from natural disasters and those caused by the wages of war. They offer medical assistance to those in need in these places, as well as providing clean water, food, and places to rest and recover. The United Nations has been represented as both hero and villain depending on which films or shows you end up seeing.
United Nations Day celebrates the foundation of this great organization, and is a great opportunity for you to learn the truth about its past, its present, and what its plans are in the up coming years. Celebrating United Nations Day can be done by getting to know about this great organization and the differences it makes across the world. Some of the basic human rights and privileges enjoyed by people around the world are the result of work by the United Nations. Additionally, celebrations are held around the world. Some of them are as simple as lighting up bridges and buildings with the trademark blue colour of the United Nations, others can include making art pieces featuring the work of the United Nations and sharing it with the people that you know.
Link to the UNs website...
Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month
October
For more than three decades, the idea that people need to be intelligent not only in IQ, but also in emotions, has been an emerging concept that has made its way into the mainstream in more recent years. Today, the celebration of Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month offers a vital opportunity to educate young people as well as adults about the benefits of emotional intelligence and how to practice it in the workplace as well as in everyday life! Emotional Intelligence can be used as a fantastic way of navigating and improving your working life. Through, understanding the implicit needs of those around you, you can help the wider team to develop skills and systems for:
- Managing the overall team workload
- Helping each other through hard times
- Developing individuals
- Increasing team cohesion
- Reducing friction between team members
So if you'd like to know more check out the links below:
EQ tests
The Harvard perspective
Emotional Intelligence as per Warwick University
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month
October
Substance abuse continues to be a growing issue in the UK, where approximately 3.2 million people or more are dealing with substance abuse disorders, whether related to alcohol, prescription medications or illegal drugs. 'National Substance Abuse Prevention Month' is here to raise awareness and show support for education that helps to grow knowledge, especially for young people, in an effort to prevent addiction and abuse. But, what can you do if this doesn't apply directly to you? If you have a friend, co-worker or family member who may be struggling with an addiction/some form of substance abuse; you might want to take National Substance Abuse Prevention Month as an opportunity to care for them. This may mean showing support by telling them how great they are doing during recovery, or by addressing the issue in a respectful and calm manor for someone who may have a problem with substance abuse and not be fully aware of how far they have let it get.
Please find some helpful links below for the following:
Alcohol
Prescription drugs
Illegal Drugs
*Gambling
Sources
https://www.azesta.co.uk/
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/16/enacted
https://www.icct.nl/publication/why-terrorism-studies-miss-mark-when-it-comes-incels?utm_content=buffere5b43&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
https://gnet-research.org/2023/08/03/cultic-religious-groups-order-of-nine-angles/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-66947311
https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2023-09-14/several-schools-go-into-lockdown-as-police-investigate-email-threats
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/#:~:text=Useful%20contacts%20for%20alcohol%20problems,a%20free%20self%2Dhelp%20group.
https://www.ukat.co.uk/addiction/drug/prescription/
https://www.talktofrank.com/get-help/find-support-near-you
https://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/
