Bullying, assaults, and sexual harassment vastly underreported at universities, figures show

Universities are in the process of implementing a range of measures within the National Consent Framework, including the introduction of an online anonymous reporting tool; training students and staff in consent, and awareness campaigns.

Incidents of bullying, assaults, and sexual harassment remain vastly underreported at Irish universities despite gains made in promoting reporting tools.

Reports increased significantly at University College Dublin last year, as it broke away from other institutions to develop its own reporting tools. Other universities saw comparatively low levels of disclosures.

According to figures obtained by the Irish Examiner through Freedom of Information covering the 2021/22 academic year, complaints using university structures were significantly less than results from a survey carried out last year indicating more than 14% of female students experience non-consensual sexual behaviour.

Dr Siobhán O’Higgins, of University of Galway’s School of Psychology, said victims may not want to go through the reporting process and be retraumatised.

People may be hesitant to report incidents due to lack of knowledge of reporting structures, handling the incident informally or not thinking they will be believed, she said. 

However, Ms O’Higgins was encouraged by an increase in victims seeking help.

“There’s been a huge rise in people seeking support from counsellors on campuses, [and] they don’t want to report as they’re dealing with it themselves,” she said.

“People are very wary of engaging in legal services and things like that and it’s fearful. Why would you want to do that if you’re getting the support to deal with the trauma you’re suffering and working through that yourself, which is a huge process?” 

Awareness campaigns

Universities are in the process of implementing a range of measures within the National Consent Framework, including the introduction of an online anonymous reporting tool; training students and staff in consent and bystander intervention; and awareness campaigns.

A spokesperson for the Irish Universities Association (IUA) said it was aware of the issues students are facing and the fact they are underreported.

The IUA said these were “important steps in building confidence among those who experience harassment or sexual assault that they can raise a concern with their university”.

In October, the Department of Higher Education released a new two-year strategy to end sexual violence and harassment at universities. The Department said the issue was a “priority” for the Minister and the strategy “represents a comprehensive and ambitious response” to the underreporting of these incidents at universities.

Some €1.5m will be spent on the appointment of sexual violence and harassment prevention and response managers at each institution and the Department has launched a national survey on experiences of bullying in the sector to provide a clearer understanding for policymakers.

A survey conducted by the Higher Education Authority in 2021 found more than 14% of female students reported “non-consensual vaginal penetration through coercion, incapacitation, force, or threat of force”, suggesting much remains unreported through university structures. Seven percent said they had been physically forced into oral sex, while 14% said they were subjected to it while “incapacitated” and unable to give consent.

This description used in the survey corresponds closely with the legal definition of rape.

College investigations

Four investigations were carried out in University College Cork last year. The university has seen a steep decline in reports of bullying and harassment, from 12 in 2018 to three last year. Seven complaints of sexual harassment were made in the last four years, but the university would not release an annual breakdown “to protect the privacy of the individuals”.

The university said it was “committed to providing a safe environment” for people on campus and is reviewing its procedures in light of a new framework launched by the Department of Higher Education this year.

UCD

University College Dublin was an outlier among Irish universities, receiving more complaints than the previous three years combined. While sexual harassment complaints dropped, with three reported during the 2021/22 academic year, there was a surge in bullying and harassment complaints. 11 harassment and 10 combined bullying and harassment complaints eclipsed the two and one respectively received during the previous three years. Seven of the 24 total complaints proceeded to an investigation, two were partially upheld, one was not, one had no findings and three are ongoing.

The university was the first in Ireland to launch a new reporting system in early 2020, operating separately to all other universities, offering access to a team of trained support staff to those submitting a complaint.

TCD

Trinity College Dublin received 11 harassment complaints last year, and sanctions were issued in nine of these cases. Five of these incidents were general harassment, two were bullying, and four were sexual harassment Three investigations occurred on foot of complaints by staff over assault, and sexual and racial harassment.

University of Limerick stuck to its average in recent years and received just two complaints last year relating to assault, abuse, bullying, and harassment.

University of Galway received just one complaint for harassment last year, following a spike the previous year when 14 sexual harassment complaints were made.

Technological University Dublin received few complaints relative to its large student population, with three complaints made last year which were subject to disciplinary action.

South East Technological University received one complaint of an assault at its Carlow campus last year, and one sexual assault at its Waterford campus which is currently under Garda investigation.

Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest received one sexual harassment and one social media harassment complaint last year, both of which resulted in disciplinary action.

Atlantic Technological University, which combines former IT’s in Galway, Sligo and Donegal, received just one complaint in the last two years, with little to none made in each campus since 2015.

Maynooth University said the number of complaints each year have been “very small” and refused to release any information to protect the identity of the individuals. A similar response was received by Dublin City University.

Munster Technological University received one complaint of harassment last year, consistent with the same number received each year since 2018.