Tackling violence, harassment and hate incidents 2021

Opening plenaries

Tackling racial harassment: implementing the guidance

Professor David Richardson, Vice-Chancellor, University of East Anglia

Uzma Khan, Director of Planning and Deputy Secretary, University of Glasgow

Professor Susan Fitzmaurice, Chair of the Race Equality Steering group, Vice President and Head of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Sheffield

Kaushika Patel, Interim Deputy PVC for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Deputy Dean for the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, De Montfort University

Since the release of Universities UK ‘Tackling racial harassment in higher education’ guidance, what actions have been taken by Universities to implement the recommendations made? 

Antisemitism and Islamophobia

Amanda Sefton, Sabbatical Officer, Union of Jewish Students 

Ijlal Khalid, Vice President Higher Education, FOSIS (Federation of Student Islamic Societies)

Dr. Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor, Assistant Professor and Feminist Sociologist of Religion, Coventry University 

There is a large diversity of beliefs on campus, how can institutions ensure everyone feels welcome and safe?

​Break from sessions

​Break from sessions

Pilot study on developing a survey to determine harassment and violence on university campuses

Dr Carrie Myers, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Sociology, City, University of London 

Dr Holly Powell-Jones, Postdoctoral Researcher, City, University of London and Founder, Online Media Law UK

Professor Helen Cowie, Emeritus Professor, University of Surrey

Dr Emma Short, Associate Professor of Psychology, ‎De Montfort University

Nathan Hudson, Research Director, Crime and Justice, NatCen 

Chair: Fiona Waye, Policy Manager, Universities UK

A small group of universities (City, University of London, De Montfort and Surrey) are working with Nat Cen Social Research Agency and UUK to develop a pilot survey to gather evidence on students’ experiences of violence across the spectrum of all forms of harassment and incidents of hate, which can be used to inform universities policies and practices to address harassment and deliver a safe and positive experience for students.  

​Student Conduct Management, Securely, Sensitively, Efficiently and with Transparency

Frank Griffiths, Head of Europe, Symplicity

Louise Bench, Solutions Architect, Symplicity

A conduct case is a conduct case; true, although conduct cases are rarely identical.  Students and institutions deserve every case to be analysed independently, as though it were the first of its kind, but also incorporating learnings and experience from past cases.

Todays student is a generation of tech savvy students who take for granted high-quality digital engagement. This session highlights the power of the digital platform, in this case, Symplicity Advocate to ensure optimal pre-defined, but flexible workflows, the correct depth of analysis and the ability to securely engage 3rd party entities resulting in fair, correct outcomes.

​Understanding the impact of Covid-19 on the LGBTQ+ community

Dr Laia Bécares, Deputy Director, Centre for Innovation and Research in Wellbeing, University of Sussex

Dr Dylan Kneale, Principal Research Fellow, University College London

Paul Martin OBE, Chief Executive, LGBT Foundation

Chair: Myles Hanlon, Policy Researcher - Knowledge Exchange Concordat, Universities UK

The Covid-19 pandemic has been disproportionately effected the LGBTQ+ community. This session will hear from those who are at the heart of understanding this impact and how they have taken action to keep individuals safe.

Quickfire keynotes

We will hear three different presentations. After we have heard from all three keynotes, there will be a breakout session in a virtual room with small group discussions to follow the presentation. Once we’ve heard from the speakers, navigate back to the main menu in the platform to choose which breakout session you would like to attend to hear more on the topic and to discuss with the speakers and other delegates.

UUK and Coventry University's data sharing guidance​

Elizabeth Dunford, Principal Solicitor (Technology/Data Protection), Coventry University 

This quick-fire keynote introduces the data sharing guidance that has been developed to assist universities when deciding whether to share personal data in respect of harassment cases. 

​Responding to domestic abuse

Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner 

In this short keynote we hear about implications of the Domestic Abuse Bill for universities as it enters the final stages of its journey onto the statue book, and the priorities from the Designate Domestic Abuse Commissioner.

​Breakout sessions - choose one to attend

Navigate back to the main menu in the platform to choose which session you'd like to join. 

​Unsafe spaces: ending sexual abuse in universities

Eva Tutchell, Education Consultant

John Edmonds, Visiting Fellow, Kings College, London and Visiting Professor, Durham University Business School

Following the quick-fire keynote, this session will provide space for a discussion with the authors. 

Break from sessions

​Break from sessions

Chair's opening remarks​

Nona McDuff Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Students and Teaching, Solent University

Office for Students re-launch their work to tackle harassment and sexual misconduct in higher education

Emma Douthwaite, Safeguarding and Welfare Manager, Office for Students

In January 2020, the OfS launched a consultation that sought views on a proposed statement of expectations relating to providers’ processes, policies and systems to prevent and respond to harassment and sexual misconduct. The consultation was paused during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The OfS are progressing work on these important issues and we will hear an update on the next steps planned for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years.

​Chair's closing remarks

Nona McDuff Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Students and Teaching, Solent University