Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022
430. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which his Department continues to monitor incidents of professional bullying throughout the higher education system; the extent to which action has been take or is proposed to deal with such issues in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13095/22]
View answerMy Department is committed to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for both students and staff in our higher education institutions. In June 2021, I wrote to the Presidents of the Higher Education Institutions to request their support and participation in two surveys by researchers at the specialist DCU Anti-Bullying Centre, with the support of my Department.
The first survey was conducted in late 2021 and focused on work-related experiences of staff in Irish higher education institutions. A report is currently being prepared which I intend to publish in the coming weeks. The second survey will focus on student experiences of bullying and cyberbullying and will be conducted in 2022. By documenting the experiences and recommendations of students and staff, the surveys will inform the development of strong policies and practices in higher education institutions to tackle and eradicate inappropriate behaviours in the learning environment and workplace.
On 18 October 2021, I launched 'Speak Out - the Anonymous Violence and Harassment Reporting Tool' for higher education institutions. Speak Out is an online and anonymous reporting platform for incidents of:
- bullying
- cyberbullying
- harassment
- discrimination
- hate crime
- coercive behaviour or control
- stalking
- assault
- sexual harassment
- sexual assault
- rape
The creation of this innovative and supportive online platform will provide a safe and anonymous medium for students and staff to report incidents of bullying, assault or sexual violence in a trauma-informed environment. These are issues that my department is acutely aware of, and I am delighted we could provide funding for this vital project.
Speak Out represents a national approach to tackling these issues by raising awareness, and by providing a means of recording instances, which will assist in achieving a zero-tolerance culture.
The project will be rolled out across 18 higher education institutions throughout this academic year for students, staff and visitors. The Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education Ireland (PCHEI) is leading the project. The data collected through this tool will be used to inform policy and targeted educational initiatives. It is the goal of PCHEI to provide a trauma-informed tool which will provide users with support services relevant to their experience.
This project is a ground-breaking initiative which is underpinned by an ethos of cross-institutional collaboration in response to such incidences within higher education institutions.
