ANNEXE B: METHODOLOGY AND LIST OF CONTRIBUTING ORGANISATIONS
METHODOLOGY
The Universities UK (UUK) Taskforce to examine violence against women, harassment and
hate crime was established in September 2015. The Taskforce consisted of 13 representatives
supported by a secretariat of three UUK staff. It featured university leaders, senior
management, academics and student representatives. Although the Taskforce was small in
number, it committed to a process of broad consultation to ensure a wide range of views
were considered. As a result, the Taskforce benefited from extensive evidence to inform its
deliberations.
The Taskforce met a total of four times between November 2015 and September 2016.
Progress reports were published on the UUK website to provide updates on activity and UUK
also provided regular reports to its UK Board and to government.
The Taskforce agreed at the outset that consideration should be given to addressing violence
against women as well as harassment and hate crime. The rationale for this approach was
that although different types of incidents will require different approaches, there are also
commonalities in terms of how an institution might respond to these, such as ensuring
proper reporting mechanisms, effective staff training, the setting of clear behavioural
expectations and the creation of a visible culture of zero tolerance. Nonetheless, when
registering these commonalities, the Taskforce also recognised that responding to sexual
violence necessitates a particularly sensitive and careful response. It therefore considered
sexual violence in particular depth. Chapter 5 offers some specific advice for institutions on
responding to such incidents.
LITERATURE REVIEW
The Taskforce considered a number of published reports from the National Union of
Students, the Equality Challenge Unit and reporting initiatives like the Community Security
Trust and Tell MAMA.
CALL FOR EVIDENCE FROM UNIVERSITIES
In 2015, UUK issued a call for evidence to its members (133 higher education institutions,
since expanded to 135) for information on how institutions prevent and respond to incidents
of sexual violence, harassment and hate crime. 60 universities submitted evidence. This
evidence was supplemented by feedback obtained from a one-day seminar in April 2016
which involved over 80 university representatives from 40 institutions.
ENGAGEMENT WITH RELEVANT SECTOR GROUPS
The Taskforce included representatives from the Association of Managers of Student
Services in Higher Education and the Association of Heads of University Administration,
which represents senior university managers. UUK also engaged with the Academic
Registrars Council and Conservatoires UK and gathered further input via speaking
engagements at a range of sector meetings and events.
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