Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D. has today (Monday) welcomed the publication by higher education institutions (HEIs) of their Actions Plans aimed at ending sexual violence and harassment.
The Action Plans were requested by Minister Harris last year and will be available for staff and students to access online.
Minister Harris said: “Addressing sexual violence is a priority for me and all those in the third level sector. We must be leaders in this field.
“Each institution has set out for its staff and students what it intends to do in this area and importantly, it must report to the Higher Education Authority in the Autumn and every year after on the progress it is making on introducing its policies.
“It is so important our staff and students have faith in the plans put forward by each institution and that each institution is held to account for its commitments.”
The Action Plans on sexual harassment and sexual violence were submitted to the HEA’s Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, which has oversight of the Framework for Consent and are published on institutional websites.
Dr Ross Woods of the HEA’s Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion added: “The HEA welcomes the commitment of HEIs to preventing and remedying all forms of sexual harassment and sexual violence. Creating a safe environment for all students and staff empowers individuals to foster a culture of respect, dignity and integrity.
"Much work has been undertaken across the higher education sector to address sexual violence and harassment in the past 18 months and the HEA is committed to continuing to support our institutions to implement fit-for-purpose policies and reporting systems in this area.”
The Action Plans address the fifteen key outcomes set out in the Framework, which are clustered into four thematic areas focusing on: Institutional Culture, Institutional Processes, Institutional Policies and Targeted Initiatives. HEIs will be required to report on progress in implementing the Framework for Consent to the HEA on an annual basis.
Minister Harris continued: “It is vital that our work to end sexual violence and harassment in higher education is informed by the experiences of staff and students on campuses – the findings of the national survey that was conducted by the Higher Education Authority in this regard in April of this year will be invaluable in creating a robust evidence base to inform further policy decisions in this area. I look forward to receiving the HEA’s report on findings from this survey in the coming months”.
The national survey into staff and student experiences of sexual violence and sexual harassment in HEIs was conducted by the HEA, with some 235,000 students and 30,000 staff members receiving the survey for completion from their HEIs. The surveys were developed in consultation with an expert Advisory Group on Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Higher Education. Survey findings are currently being analysed by the HEA and will be presented to the Minister in the coming months.
In addition, Minister Harris has written to each higher education institution asking them to consider introducing a Domestic Violence Leave Policy to cover all staff. NUI Galway has recently led the way by introducing such a policy, which, provides for a period of paid time away from work for staff members who have suffered or are suffering from domestic violence or abuse. This leave will enable the staff member to take the time they need to seek assistance in a structured and supported environment.
Minister Harris added: "Our institutions have a duty of care to their staff and this policy builds on, and complements, the work that is ongoing across our higher education system to tackle sexual violence and harassment, and to foster institutional campus cultures that are safe, respectful and supportive.
"Domestic violence continues to be a pervasive problem in our society. Nearly 15% of women between the ages of 18 - 74 have experienced physical and sexual violence in their lifetime, and nearly 31% have experienced psychological violence. While the risk to women is higher, domestic abuse also affects a significant number of men. Figures for 2020, show that the Gardaí received some 43,000 calls to respond to domestic abuse incidents – a 16% increase on 2019.
"Domestic violence does not just have a major impact on the person and their family. It can also have a significant impact on the person’s working life, and their wellbeing."
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
Background
The Framework for Consent in Higher Education Institutions: “Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive – Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions” was launched in April 2019. The Framework aims to ensure the creation of an institutional campus culture which is safe, respectful and supportive.
The Framework outlines a number of aims for HEIs, Students, Staff and for the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and/or the Department. In August 2020, Minister Harris wrote to the Presidents of the Higher Education Institutions requesting that they develop institutional Action Plans to tackle sexual violence and harassment, with reference to the Framework, and submit these to the HEA’s Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
HEA’s National Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The remit of the HEA’s National Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion was extended in 2020 to include oversight of the Framework for Consent’s implementation.
The HEA Centre has also worked with the HEIs and Sectoral bodies on the national, sectoral and local roll out of online consent training and online bystander intervention training for all incoming students in the academic year 2020/21 and the development of an Anonymous Report and Support Tool for issues of bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment.
Additionally, it works with the National Advisory Committee, HEIs and their representative bodies to-
- develop awareness around issues surfaced by the framework
- to support those who might be affected by these; and
- develop a standardised annual national survey of staff and students to monitor the experiences of students and staff.
National staff and student surveys on sexual violence and sexual harassment
Minister Harris launched the national staff and student surveys on sexual violence and sexual harassment in Higher Education Institutions in April 2021. This asked students and staff to detail any experience of sexual harassment or sexual violence. 7,901 responses recorded from students and 3,516 from staff.
The survey findings are currently being analysed by the HEA and a report is expected in the coming months.
See further details at https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/a8e67-minister-harris-launches-national-staff-and-student-surveys-on-sexual-violence-and-sexual-harassment-in-irish-higher-education-institutions/
HEA’s National Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The remit of the HEA’s National Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion was extended in 2020 to include oversight of the Framework for Consent’s implementation.
The HEA Centre has also worked with the HEIs and Sectoral bodies on the national, sectoral and local roll out of online consent training and online bystander intervention training for all incoming students in the academic year 2020/21 and the development of an Anonymous Report and Support Tool for issues of bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment.
Domestic Violence Leave Policy
NUI Galway’s has introduced a Domestic Violence Leave Policy, which was launched by Minister Harris on 26th May, 2021. The purpose of the NUIG policy is to provide for a period of paid time away from work for staff members who have suffered or are suffering from domestic violence or abuse.
This leave will enable the staff member to take the time they need to seek assistance in a structured and supported environment. Paid domestic violence leave will be granted for up to 10 working days per year on a rolling basis. Further details are available here.
Minister Harris wrote to the Presidents of the higher education institutions in June 2021, highlighting this policy and encouraging other higher education institutions to consider implementing such a policy on domestic violence leave to cover all staff.