CHANGING THE CULTURE | Page 31

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. 30