Following the cabinet reshuffle last month, the Board of Deputies covened a meeting this week with the new Universities Minister, Michelle Donelan.
Vice President of the Board of Deputies Amanda Bowman led a delegation of Jewish communal organisations, with colleagues from the Union of Jewish Students, the Jewish Leadership Council, the Community Security Trust and University Jewish Chaplaincy.
The Minister was briefed about key issues facing Jewish students and academics on campus, including antisemitism and adoption of the IHRA definition, extra security costs for student societies and religious freedoms.
Universities Minister Michelle Donelan said: “I was pleased to hear first-hand about the experiences of Jewish students and staff in higher education, in this productive meeting with the Board of Deputies and other representative groups.
“As Universities Minister, I will be working with vice-chancellors to see what more can be done to tackle antisemitism on campus as there is no place for discrimination of any kind in higher education.”
Vice President Amanda Bowman said: “We were delighted to welcome new Universities Minister Michelle Donelan into her role, and introduce her to the key issues that face Jewish students and academics on campus. Her commitment on the IHRA definition of antisemitism and in addressing the issue of additional security costs for Jewish Society events will be reassuring to the community. We look forward to working with the Minister and her team moving forwards.”
UJS Campaigns Organiser Daniel Kosky said: “We were pleased to meet new Universities Minister Michelle Donelan and welcome her into her role. We have worked closely with Universities Ministers over the years and we are grateful that Minister Donelan chose to meet us so soon after her appointment. We appreciate her commitment to Jewish students and look forward to working with her to ensure Jewish students are supported on campus.”