Tackling Sexual Harassment across the Higher Education Sector

• Examining the Office for Student’s statement of expectation on preventing and addressing sexual harassment in the sector
• Analysing how the OfS will monitor and assess performance against the statement of expectations
• Assessing the future of the regulatory approach on sexual harassment and how this may link to conditions of registration
• Exploring the Office for Student’s request to universities to review processes and policies on sexual harassment by summer 2021

• The importance of incremental: Understanding that all universities are at different stages in addressing sexual harassment; culturally, policy and procedurally
• The importance of bespoke: The need for our university specific reports that outline clear steps to drive change in individual institutions
• The importance of inclusive: Including all students in the discussion around sexual harassment and actively addressing the intersectionality of the issue

• Examining how to effectively engage with students to ensure reporting and support mechanisms have the confidence of those using them
• Assessing the next steps in ensuring transparency and fairness in reporting and investigation processes
• Developing an institution-wide approach to communicating and implementing preventative support
• Analysing how institutions can evaluate and review the effectiveness of their sexual harassment process
• Exploring the role of embedding pastoral and welfare support for victims

This interactive workshop session will allow you to evaluate the effectiveness of your victim support and assess how pastoral interventions should feature within an institution’s response to a sexual harassment incident.

The workshop will allow you to consider what high impact interventions look like and how support should be delivered following a report. This is your opportunity to reflect on practice and gain new ideas on enhancing student support for victims.

• Assessing what an effective student complaints process looks like in relation to staff misconduct and staff discipline
• Examining the power dynamics in staff student relationships and assessing how institutions can develop preventative solutions
• Supporting improved reporting around staff – student misconduct and protecting complainants
• Managing an effective investigative process in relation to staff complaints and ensuring fair and equitable outcomes

This session will examine the findings from critical research conducted by HEPI in their report, Sex and Relationships Among Students.

• Examining the role of intersectionality in tackling Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) on higher education campuses
• Assessing the distinct risks facing LGBTQ+ and ethnic minority students and how this should form part of a preventative approach
• Analysing how higher education leaders can ensure policy and process design is delivered from an intersectional standpoint as part of a wider approach to equality, diversity and inclusion

In this honest and reflective session student leaders will assess what action is required to deliver safe campuses and a genuine preventative approach across an institution.

The session will consider how universities can improve their engagement with student and improve confidence in policies and reporting processes.

In these roundtable discussions you will get an opportunity to engage in 2 key discussions around your institution’s approach to tackling sexual harassment and abuse. Each discussion will last 15 minutes and allow you to reflect on key ideas for improvement in line with the Office for Student’s Statement of Expectations.

*Programme subject to change