Tackling gender-based violence

Tackling gender-based violence: implementing UUK’s guidelines in a Student Services context

The Universities UK (UUK) taskforce to address violence against women, harassment and hate crime affecting students, has developed recommendations for higher education providers to help implement approaches to these issues. The recommendations focus on challenging violence against women in higher education, and responding to student concerns. This event for Student Services professionals explores how to implement these recommendations in the context of your institution, through Student Services strategy and practice.

AMOSSHE members can find the event resources here:

Members only

Overview

The event will involve thinking about the UUK recommendations in a practical way, as well as reviewing existing good practice and approaches. You will also have the opportunity to discuss ideas with your Student Services peers to explore in more detail and understand what the recommendations mean for you and your institution.

This event deals with sensitive and potentially distressing topics. You will work with other delegates to discuss sample case studies and how you might respond to the situations described in a professional manner. Please consider the nature of these challenging issues before you decide to attend.

Location, time and price

The event takes place at the Park Plaza hotel in Leeds. Registration opens at 09:30 and the welcome address starts at 10:00.

Here are the prices (which include lunch):

• AMOSSHE named member - £155 (log in to access this rate)
  
• Non-member, but an employee of an AMOSSHE member organisation - £170
  

You don’t need to pay VAT for AMOSSHE events. Before booking, please read our booking terms and conditions.

Programme and speakers

The day is led by Sam Dale (AMOSSHE Vice Chair Professional Development and Deputy Academic Registrar, University of Durham) and Christine Lowther (AMOSSHE Executive Member and Director of Student Services, University of Glasgow). Here’s an outline of the day:

• 09:30 - registration and refreshments.
  
• Fiona Waye (Senior Policy Lead - Inclusion, Equality and Diversity, Universities UK) will give an overview of the Universities UK (UUK) taskforce recommendations to address violence against women, harassment and hate crime affecting students. Fiona’s session will outline the key areas of the recommendations, and how these were developed with the input of AMOSSHE.
  
• Working in small groups you’ll discuss the implications of the recommendations with peer Student Services leaders. This is an opportunity to consider the recommendations in the context of your own institution, sharing what works well and exploring approaches to tackling challenges. Your discussions will be facilitated to ensure that you have the chance to cover key aspects of the recommendations, including prevention, education, campus culture, reporting and disclosure, policy, response procedures, and legal and reputational risk.
  
• Working in groups you’ll review case studies of incidents and situations in order to think about how strategies and approaches might apply in a specific context.
  
• Erin Ross (Vice President Student Support, Students’ Representative Council, University of Glasgow) will give a student perspective, outlining examples of student-led prevention strategies, and how student bodies approach campaigning their institutions to implement change. Erin’s session will help you understand how to work effectively with students’ unions and the student societies and groups within it.
  
• Ian Munton (Head of Student Support & Development Services, Keele University) and Natalie Jordan (Welfare & Internationalisation Officer, Keele University Students’ Union) will outline how Keele worked with sexual violence prevention training company Limeculture to develop a response strategy. This session gives insights into working with third parties in this area, and the benefits and challenges of this approach.
  
• Sam Dale (AMOSSHE Vice Chair Professional Development and Deputy Academic Registrar, University of Durham) will discuss the core issues to consider when putting the UUK recommendations into practice, drawing on his experience of implementing strategies at Durham.
  
• Finally, all the presenters will contribute their key tips for implementing a successful response, including pitfalls to avoid, essential internal and external contacts for collaborative working, and examples of inspiring good practice. Then you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and contribute your own expertise and experience.
  
• 16:15 - finish.