Safer Universities

Overview

Whilst university and higher education provides a uniquely enriching and formative experience for most students, it can also bring with it a wide range of challenges, from mental health issues to personal safety and well-being. These can be complicated by the fact that the vast majority of students may have not experienced living independently for the first time, away from their families and their support networks.  

Alongside the support services and structures that universities put in place, clear guidance needs to be offered, so that members of staff and contractors understand the key challenges that students may face, how to recognise warning signs, when and how to act, and the limits of their responsibilities. These responsiblities are explored in four key areas: Safeguarding, Extremism Prevention, Suicide Prevention, and Harassment and Sexual Violence.

Objectives

In this course you will learn:

• The definition of safeguarding, and what groups of individuals it applies to
• How to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns
• The role of confidentiality within safeguarding best practice
• The definition of extremism and radicalisation
• The warning signs that a student might be radicalised and how and when to report concerns
• The key movements and ideologies that are of particular concernWhy suicide is a risk to students in a higher education context
• An awareness of suicide triggers, such as mental health conditions, academic stress, and disruptions to established support networks
• The myths and stigmas surrounding suicide
• A suicide first-aid approach
• The various types of sexual misconduct and harassment
• The definition of consent in a sexual contextHow to support a victim of sexual violence