The Independent Commission on Freedom of Information has said that there is “no convincing evidence” to suggest that universities should exempt from the act – in a report published on Tuesday.
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 is commonly used by journalists to investigate public bodies and is also used by university students writing for student newspapers.
Speaking in 2012, Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, said that universities being subject to FOI requests “can deter businesses from entering into collaboration with them.”
She said: “Releasing complex scientific results too early and out of context risks leaving our academics’ work open to damaging misinterpretation.”
However, the Independent Commission said on Tuesday that the evidence supplied to them by universities was “unpersuasive” and that “it is important universities to remain subject to the Act.”
The decision benefits student journalists who wish to hold their university to account, with FOI requests often being a source of news stories for student media.
Matt Burgess, journalist and author of Freedom of Information: A Practical Guide for Journalists, said: “It is part of a journalist’s role – whether they’re a student journalist or any sort of journalist – to be able to scrutinise and ask for information under the act.
“If the act did not apply to universities it would be very damaging in terms of being able to find out expenses that have been paid to Vice Chancellors, to members of staff and a whole range of information that’s in the public interest.”
