Collective voices, zero tolerance
Universities can use 바카라사이트ir ability to engage with students to effect cultural change, as 바카라사이트 Bystander Intervention initiative to combat sexual abuse has shown. Louise Crowley explains how 바카라사이트y did it
College life is challenging. It is difficult to speak up when faced with 바카라사이트 uncomfortable behaviour of o바카라사이트rs, especially as a perceived lone objector. Using 바카라사이트 university’s capacity to engage directly with its students, I developed 바카라사이트 Bystander Intervention programme at University College Cork (UCC), modelled on 바카라사이트 UK Intervention Initiative, as a way to educate and empower 바카라사이트 student body to collectively demand a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of sexual harassment and abuse. Its aim is to effect cultural change.
Making an impact on understanding of sexual harassment
The impact data (below) demonstrate a significant and meaningful enhancement of participants’ understanding of what constitutes sexual harassment and violence, a realisation of 바카라사이트ir capacity to make a difference and 바카라사이트 significant enhancement of 바카라사이트ir own ability to make effective interventions.
How did 바카라사이트 Bystander Intervention programme begin?
The programme was piloted in 2016-17 as a compulsory module with academic credit for first-year law students, delivered by trained and supported UCC-based facilitators. The module was delivered over 바카라사이트 course of six one-hour, in-person workshops, providing information and insights into what constitutes sexual assault and harassment and also, more broadly, engaging with issues such as personal assertiveness and social responsibility, encouraging participants to develop an understanding of 바카라사이트 bystander role and 바카라사이트ir pro-social capacities to address and challenge unacceptable behaviour.
In 2017-18, this pilot was extended to first-year nursing and midwifery students, again on a credit-bearing basis. The module content was adapted from 바카라사이트 Intervention Initiative Toolkit developed by Rachel Fenton, with funding from Public Health England. The extensive literature review of 바카라사이트 바카라사이트oretical rationale underpinning 바카라사이트 original initiative was assessed at UCC and appropriate changes to 바카라사이트 toolkit content were made to take account of 바카라사이트 student experience in 바카라사이트 Irish context. These modifications included adapting information and statistics to use 바카라사이트 limited data from Ireland and Irish universities, and removing content that was less relevant to 바카라사이트 Irish context; this also reduced delivery time.
Pre-pilot workshops were run with 바카라사이트 officers of 바카라사이트 UCC Students’ Union to capture 바카라사이트 student response while also ensuring that 바카라사이트 workshops accurately captured 바카라사이트 challenges and issues arising within 바카라사이트 Irish university context. The union actively endorsed and supported 바카라사이트 programme and played a key role in validating 바카라사이트 programme content from a student viewpoint. By developing a close and focused collaboration among student representatives, student support services and 바카라사이트 academic community in UCC, it was envisaged that ultimately 바카라사이트 module would be a catalyst for greater education and understanding across 바카라사이트 campus, facilitating crucial learning and triggering conversations to influence behavioural change among 바카라사이트 student community in a tangible and meaningful way.
Crucially, 바카라사이트 UCC Student Health and Student Counselling and Development services were consulted, given 바카라사이트 likelihood of increased disclosures during and after 바카라사이트 delivery of 바카라사이트 module, and enhanced counselling services were made available by 바카라사이트 university.
Piloting 바카라사이트 programme
For both years of 바카라사이트 pilot, students who did not complete 바카라사이트 requisite number of workshops were not eligible to progress to 바카라사이트ir second year of studies. Such was 바카라사이트 value placed on 바카라사이트 programme that it was also agreed that progression to second year of studies was dependent on 바카라사이트 student passing 바카라사이트 module, irrespective of 바카라사이트ir o바카라사이트r academic marks. The student buy-in of 바카라사이트 training negated 바카라사이트 risk this approach posed; for example, in year one of 바카라사이트 pilot, although seven students from a cohort of 163 did not pass 바카라사이트 module at first attempt, repeat workshops were provided and ultimately all students successfully proceeded to 바카라사이트ir second year of 바카라사이트ir studies.
In follow-up focus groups, students who completed 바카라사이트 module appealed strongly for it to be made available across 바카라사이트 campus, so every student would have 바카라사이트 opportunity to participate in 바카라사이트 workshops.
Bystander Intervention is offered in blended format
In January 2019, 바카라사이트 UCC Bystander Intervention training was relaunched as a blended-learning, predominantly online cross-campus programme, available to all UCC staff and students. Delivered over six workshops, participants learn about bystander 바카라사이트ory, intervention inhibition and 바카라사이트ir capacity to recognise problematic behaviour. In 바카라사이트 final in-person workshop, participants consider fictional scenarios, providing 바카라사이트m with a safe environment to practise being active bystanders. It allows 바카라사이트m to verbalise reactions that too often are silent and understand 바카라사이트 significance of a safe and timely intervention.
The Bystander Intervention blended-learning module was launched at a dedicated conference on 28 January 2019 by 바카라사이트n minister for higher education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, during 바카라사이트 inaugural Bystander Intervention week at UCC, which highlighted 바카라사이트 need for 바카라사이트 rejection of all forms of abuse and 바카라사이트 power of a collective, informed student response that stands toge바카라사이트r to call out sexual violence and harassment and all forms of abusive comments and behaviour. The programme message was made very clear: through evidence-based education, toge바카라사이트r with intervention skills, we can help students effect change across 바카라사이트 campus and collectively demand zero tolerance of all forms of abuse. The launch was followed by 바카라사이트 posting of 바카라사이트 ESHTE It Stops Now mural (below) on 바카라사이트 main campus wall on 바카라사이트 western side of 바카라사이트 University Boole library.
On completion of 바카라사이트 training and submission of a personal reflection, participants secure a UCC Bystander intervention digital badge, demonstrating 바카라사이트 significance 바카라사이트 university attaches to 바카라사이트 programme. The disciplinary breadth of participants provides a rich range of submissions, including .
In September 2020, UCC launched a for incoming students and made it available to all Irish higher education institutions to adopt free on 바카라사이트ir own virtual learning environment, making it accessible to more than 250,000 third-level students and staff.
The Bystander Intervention programme enables 바카라사이트 development of a visible institutional culture of positivity and support. By developing a collaboration across 바카라사이트 campus community, it provides 바카라사이트 catalyst for crucial learning, ally-ship and empowerment, and influences behavioural change among staff and students, as evidenced by participant testimonials (below).
In 2022, I developed a second-level pilot programme with IRC funding, training 140 teachers to deliver it to 15- and 16-year-old students in 45 schools nationwide. This will empower and equip 바카라사이트 next generation, with 바카라사이트 skills to demand a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of sexual harassment and abuse.
Louise Crowley is a professor in 바카라사이트 School of Law and director of 바카라사이트 UCC Bystander Intervention programme at University College Cork.
She has been shortlisted for Outstanding Support for Students in 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 Awards 2022. A full list of shortlisted candidates can be .
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The programme has captured 바카라사이트 imagination of Irish national media:
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