Compliance and internal process
The Office for Students (OfS) monitors compliance in the sector and the University must submit a Prevent annual accountablility and data return.
On 2 June 2020 the University received the outcome of a recent OfS assessment of the University’s compliance with the Prevent duty. The OfS confirmed that the University demonstrates due regard to the Prevent duty and concluded that the University is not at higher risk of non-compliance with the Prevent duty in the future.
From 2021 onwards the OfS no longer issue compliance judgements as part of the annual process. On 4 May 2022, the OfS confirmed that they had no queries in relation to the annual submission for the 2021-22 AY.
The University created a Prevent Steering Group in 2016 which is a recommended action for the sector, as indicated in the Prevent Duty Guidance: for higher education institutions in England and Wales (H.M Government 2015). The expectation is that universities will “make use of internal mechanisms to share information about Prevent across the relevant faculties of the institution” (Prevent duty guidance: p5) and most universities use their Steering Group to deliver on this. The University of Sussex Prevent Duty Steering Group reports to the Vice Chancellor, through the University’s Executive Group (UEG) and to Council, as the Governing Body of the University. A report which summarises Prevent related activity, and how the University has demonstrated due regard to the Prevent Duty is provided to the Office for Students (OfS) on an annual basis.
Part of the University’s Prevent duty is to maintain a Risk Assessment and Action Plan, this is a living document which the Prevent Steering Group oversees and updates. It is fully reviewed on an annual basis.