EXTERNAL SPEAKERS
LSESU Clubs and Societies invite hundreds of speakers every year, to discuss a wide variety of topics.
If your group wishes to invite a speaker onto campus, you must make the SU aware by including their names and a brief description on your event form.
SU staff will conduct a background check on the speaker. This is to ensure we can put measures in place to ensure the event is as safe as possible, for your group, your audience, your speaker and for the wider LSE community.
If the speaker is high-profile, or something controversial comes up on our search, we'll circulate details of the event to the LSE Risk Spotters group, which is comprised of various LSESU and LSE staff members. They will then share any recommendations they have to ensure the safety of the event.
Also, you may be required to have an academic chair at your event. This is to ensure freedom of speech is upheld.
You will be required to find an academic chair if:
- Your event is open to the public (including students from other universities).
- Your speaker is high-profile, or could require extra security considerations.
- The topics you're discussing could attract strongly differing views (regardless of where your society sits within these views).
Please don't advertise your speaker until the SU have approved your event. This is to ensure both the SU and the School are aware of who is being invited to speak on campus, and to protect your group.
You'll also need to email the name(s) of your speakers to the reception of the building where your event is taking place. This will ensure they're allowed access on the day of the event.
Important Information
Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) Under UK law, student groups must register certain activities conducted on behalf of a foreign government or foreign entity. If your event involves a representative of a foreign government, you must declare this when submitting your Events form. Most general student activities are exempt, but it's important to check and let us know. See more guidance on FIRS for LSESU Student Groups here or contact su.societies@lse.ac.uk
ACADEMIC CHAIRS
An academic chair is required at any event on LSE Campus that's:
Open to the public (including students from other universities).
and/or
Your speaker is high profile, or could require extra security considerations.
The topics you're discussing could attract strongly differing views (regardless of where your Society sits with these views).
This must be a full-time member of academic staff. PhD students are not eligible.
This directory may help, as you can add a filter to find academic staff.
For more information about LSE's academic chair requirements, please visit this page and scroll down to the 'Opening Events to the Public' section.
It is your group's responsibility to fully brief your chair in advance of an event. You may wish to discuss the structure of the event, topics of discussion, and details of your invited speakers. Please also send them LSE's Chairnotes, to ensure they know what their role entails.
This is an LSE requirement, as a condition of using their spaces. Therefore, we recommend reaching out to potential chairs early on, to ensure you can secure one in time. Otherwise, the event will unfortunately need to be rearranged.
Student Group x Employer Events
Whilst this will mainly be applicable for Societies that have sponsorship from external organisations (see here), the guidance/policy regarding Student Group x Employer events remains the same for all events regardless of whether there’s a sponsorship involved or not – that is:
- Student Group x Employer events must not solely be promotional (of themselves), or hosted for the purpose of recruitment only. Events of this kind must more widely incorporate skills-development, education about a particular sector/issue alongside, and/or general networking into the agenda. These events must be a true collaboration between Student Group and Employer – not just something organised on behalf of the external organisation. Furthermore, on-campus Careers Fairs can only be arranged through LSE Careers (careers.employers@lse.ac.uk).
FAQS
Do I need an academic chair for my speaker event if LSE alumni have been invited?
Yes, LSE alumni are considered as members of the public. Therefore, an academic chair must be secured for this speaker event.