England’s higher education regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), has publicly apologized for a series of errors in its decision to fine the University of Sussex a record £585,000. The regulator had claimed the university violated free speech rules through the actions of its former professor, Kathleen Stock. However, a judicial review led by Sussex in April found the OfS had acted with bias and "closed its mind" to other perspectives, leading to the fine being overturned. In a statement, the OfS acknowledged its mistakes, saying it would now work to improve its practices with "humility and honesty." In a "lessons learned" report, the OfS outlined several reforms, including fostering more respectful relationships with universities and exploring alternative methods to drive change, such as guidance or support, before resorting to penalties. However, Professor Sasha Roseneil, Sussex’s vice-chancellor, welcomed the acknowledgment but felt the proposed changes were insufficient. She pointed out that the report did not fully address the serious issues highlighted by the high court, nor did it reflect the depth of the problems within the OfS. Roseneil also noted that the regulator had failed to engage adequately with the university, a point criticized by the court. The high court's findings were supported by an internal review conducted by the accounting firm KPMG, commissioned by the OfS. The review criticized the regulator for being overly confrontational, maintaining poor written records, and lacking clear accountability. It noted that the OfS had not placed enough emphasis on maintaining constructive communication with universities, leading to increasingly hostile relationships. Additionally, the review found that the leadership team at the time had become too focused on the case, limiting the ability for independent input or fresh ideas. The OfS’s current leadership, including chair Edward Peck and chief executives Ruth Hannant and Polly Payne, expressed gratitude to the University of Sussex for their open dialogue in reaching this point. Hannant and Payne took on their roles in June and were not involved in the original decision to fine the university. The initial investigation was triggered by the resignation of Kathleen Stock in 2021, following campus protests over her views on transgender rights and gender identity.