CHALLENGES IN PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS
73. The challenges reported by institutions ranged from specific process issues to
much broader campus culture and educational challenges.
74. In terms of process improvements, reporting and recording mechanisms were
highlighted by a significant number of institutions. Ensuring that students feel
able to report incidents to internal and external authorities and support
organisations is an important responsibility of the institution. With regards to
broader challenges, many respondents highlighted the diverse nature of their
student bodies. There is not necessarily a clear, common understanding of what
constitutes harassment. Universities are large communities made up of people
from a huge variety of backgrounds, nationalities and beliefs. This can create a
challenge in terms of education and attitude, and some universities felt that
more needed to be done to encourage a shared understanding of what is, and is
not, acceptable and what was meant by appropriate behaviour.
ONLINE HARASSMENT
75. Many universities highlighted the growing problem of online harassment and
the inherent complexity of managing this now that students use social media so
extensively in everyday life. This was echoed in evidence from wider
stakeholders including the UJS, Tell MAMA and the NUS who highlighted that
social media is becoming a more prominent vehicle for harassment and hate
crime.
USING THE EVIDENCE
76. It is clear from the evidence that the quality and effectiveness of responses
across the sector is varied. Not all students have a positive experience at
university and not all universities respond effectively to incidents when they do
occur. Yet it is also apparent that universities do take these responsibilities
seriously and that there are good examples of a firm commitment to this agenda
across the university sector.
77. The examples presented in Annexe E provide universities with a number of
examples of how other institutions are responding to the challenges of
preventing and responding to incidents of violence against women, harassment
and hate crime.
78. In spite of the positive initiatives, there is a recognition from universities that
more work is required to ensure that students have access to the support they
need and to foster a culture that mitigates against unacceptable behaviour.
79. The evidence summarised in this chapter enabled the Taskforce to identify a
number of emerging themes and recommendations. These are presented in
chapter 3.
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