Ninth Level Ireland

“A ground-breaking survey into staff and student experiences of sexual violence and sexual harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions is being launched today (12 April) by Simon Harris TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The survey, which will begin today and will be conducted by the Higher Education Authority, will be sent to every student and staff member by their Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). There are over 30,000 staff and 235,000 students in higher education …” (more)

[gov.ie, 12 April]

“All staff and students in higher education are to be surveyed on their experiences of sexual violence and sexual harassment during the coming weeks as part of a ‘zero tolerance’ initiative to create safe campuses for all. In addition, all colleges are being required to record and report cases of sexual harassment and bullying of staff and students on an annual basis …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 12 April]

“University College Dublin (UCD) has spent almost €100,000 on solicitor fees and investigations following allegations of sexual harassment. Internal university data shows there have been 14 complaints of sexual harassment at the south Dublin college in the past five years …” (more)

[Wayne O’Connor, Independent, 11 April]

“UCD Academic Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin has claimed that there were times during the two year period between 2015-2017 where she was advised by colleagues to take extra security measures to remain safe from her harasser. Speaking to Róisin Ingle as part of The Irish Times Women’s Podcast’s Big Night In, Ní Shúilleabháin recounted her experience of navigating the issue whilst upholding her duties as an academic in the university …” (more)

[Doireann O Sullivan, College Tribune, 10 April]

“Two weeks ago, ‘The PROPEL Report: Promoting Consent and Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Institutions,’ was published. It was never anticipated that the publication would coincide with violent cases in both Ireland and abroad …” (more)

[Eavan O’Brien, Independent, 29 March]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris has today launched an 8-week social media campaign aimed at helping education students and staff in higher education institutions manage disclosures of sexual harassment and violence …” (more)

[gov.ie, 1 March]

“During a presentation to UCD’s Governing Authority in October, university officials revealed new figures demonstrating a dramatic increase in complaints. These figures show that incidents of harassment and sexual misconduct have been largely underreported at UCD …” (more)

[Conor Capplis, College Tribune, 20 January]

“A survey is set to be carried out into harassment, sexual harassment and bullying in the country’s higher education institutions. The survey, which will look into harassment and bullying of both staff and students, was confirmed by Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris …” (more)

[Michelle McGlynn, Irish Examiner, 26 November]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has confirmed a survey is to be carried out into harassment, sexual harassment and bullying of both staff and students in our higher education institutions …” (more)

[Maura O’Shea, HEA, 26 November]

“All third level colleges are to be required to measure cases of sexual harassment and bullying of staff and students as part of new ‘zero tolerance’ initiative to create safe campuses for all. Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris TD is to announce on Thursday that higher education institutions will be required to record and report these statistics annually from now on …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 26 November]

“Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which bullying has been identified in academia; the actions taken in response; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 20 October]

“University College Dublin (UCD) has released new drafts of their Dignity and Respect Policies for review to students and staff this week. The four documents contain proposed revisions of the University’s Dignity and Respect Policy, which concern bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct and how these issues will be dealt with by UCD’s Management team moving forward …” (more)

[Isobel Dunne, College Tribune, 7 October]

“Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of incidents of bullying, intimidation or harassment including sexual harassment reported in each of the past five years to date in third-level institutions; the extent to which such allegations were investigated; the action taken arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 17 September]

“All first year students in University College Dublin (UCD) must complete an online bystander intervention module as part of their orientation this September. Students will not be awarded academic credit upon successful completion of the module. The introduction of the Bystander Education programme forms part of a series of initiatives established in UCD to deal with the issue of sexual harassment and violence, both on campus and in the wider community …” (more)

[Nessa Collins, College Tribune, 14 August]

The full (draft) Programme is here; extracts related to third level are here.

“UCC are investigating after some online posts were made targeting a number of female students. A probe has been launched after over 20 women had their pictures posted on an Instagram account which appeared to run a competition where viewers could rate them based on their looks …” (more)

[Gavin O’Callaghan, CorkBeo, 3 April]

“An anti-sexual abuse course developed in University College Cork is to be made mandatory for all new students at University College Dublin. The bystander intervention course, which focuses on how to help when you see someone at risk of predatory behaviour, was developed by UCC’s vice dean at the School of Law, Dr Louise Crowley …” (more)

[Shane Raymond, Irish Examiner, 25 February]

“A mandatory 90-minute lesson on how bystanders can intervene in cases of sexual harassment or assault will be taken by some 5,500 incoming first-years at University College Dublin in September. The aim of the lesson, which will be embedded into the orientation programme for first-year students, is to ‘equip students with the confidence to intervene in small ways in the event they do see something or experience it themselves’ …” (more)

[Jade Wilson, Irish Times, 25 February]

“This morning I came across a piece in the Guardian about a report from the UK Office for Students about hate crime and sexual harassment in Universities. One of the recommendations of the report is that that Universities should hire specialist staff to investigate sexual harassment …” (more)

[In the Dark, 12 June]

“All third-level colleges should be obliged to provide classes on sexual consent for students or risk losing State funding, a Government-commissioned report has recommended. The report follows rising concern over the level of rape and sexual assault on college campuses …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 19 March]