Professor Dame Nicola Dandridge to lead post-employment tribunal review

Posted on 7 May 2024 • University news

Professor Dame Nicola Dandridge has been appointed to lead an independent review at The Open University following the ruling of the Employment Tribunal in the case brought by Professor Jo Phoenix earlier this year.

Formerly Chief Executive of the Office for Students, Universities UK and the Equality Challenge Unit, Professor Dame Dandridge’s independent review will be tasked with:

• Safeguarding academic freedom and freedom of speech, and how these rights intersect with equality and employment rights and legislation.
• Ensuring difficult and contested matters can be debated in line with the OU’s values.
• How the University manages disagreements where colleagues hold profoundly different and conflicting views.
• Defining, communicating and upholding standards of behaviour expected of and by OU staff through effective policies and practice.

Plans for an independent review were announced previously by Professor Tim Blackman, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University, following the employment tribunal ruling. The University unreservedly apologised to Professor Phoenix following the judgment.

The review, which will start in early May, is expected to take four months to complete.

Announcing the review, Pro-Chancellor of The Open University Malcolm Sweeting said:

“I’m pleased that Professor Dame Nicola Dandridge will be leading this review. Her experience and leadership in higher education will bring independent and expert insight in this challenging area. The review reflects our commitment to learning from this experience.

“On behalf of the University Council and its leadership team, I would encourage all colleagues to take this opportunity to contribute to the review and thank them in advance for their support.”

Professor Dame Nicola Dandridge, Chair of the Independent Review, said: 

“These are difficult and challenging issues that the entire higher education sector is grappling with. I hope this review will lead to a better understanding and positive recommendations that can help not only The Open University but other institutions as well. 

“I look forward to working with colleagues from all parts of the OU as we look to learn together and bring forward constructive recommendations for how contentious issues can be discussed and addressed at the University.”