Consent Framework

In July 2020, Minister Harris met with the National Advisory Committee (NAC) for the implementation of the Framework for Consent in HEIs (Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive: Ending Sexual Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions). Following this meeting, the Minister wrote to all publicly funded HEIs requesting that they develop institutional action plans on tackling sexual violence and harassment, and report to the HEA on their progress on the implementation of the Framework.

The remit of the HEA Centre of Excellence for Gender Equality was expanded to cover all areas of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, as well as oversight of implementation of the Framework for Consent.

Since then, the HEA Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion has been working with HEIs and the sectoral representative bodies to support implementation of the Framework for Consent. For instance, for academic year 2020/21, the HEA has supported the national, sectoral and local roll out of online consent training and online bystander intervention training, as well as the development of a national Anonymous Reporting Tool for issues of bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment.

As part of monitoring requirements, the HEA requires that institutions report progress on implementation of the Framework for Consent.

Read the Framework for Consent in HEIs (Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive: Ending Sexual Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions)

Read MIC's Action Plan to Tackle Sexual Violence, Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment.

• The HEA’s Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion supports and oversees the implementation of Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive: Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions,which was published by the government in April 2019, and is often referred to as ‘the Framework for Consent in Higher Education’.

• In April 2021, at the request of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, TD, the HEA conducted national surveys to monitor the experiences of students and staff in relation to sexual violence and harassment, in order to create a robust evidence base for further policy and funding decisions in relation to tackling sexual violence and harassment in higher education institutions (HEIs).

• The HEA established an expert Advisory Group on Ending Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment in HEIs (ESVH Advisory Group) in January 2021 to support this work. In collaboration with this advisory group, the HEA Centre of Excellence for Equality Diversity and Inclusion developed and ran national surveys of staff and students to monitor their experiences in April 2021. Summary and detailed reports are available on the HEA website. Please note: The survey reports discuss experiences related to sexual harassment and violence. Some of the language is explicit and some may find it uncomfortable. Information on support can be found here.

• 11, 417 responses were received (7,901 students and 3,516 staff). The survey reports provide a picture of student and staff attitudes towards and experiences of sexual violence and sexual harassment, as well as their awareness and confidence in HEI policies, processes and initiatives in the area. They set out a number of recommendations for action, which are addressed by the ‘Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Higher Education Institutions, Implementation Plan’ 2022 – 2024’ (ESVH Plan). The plan was developed by the HEA with the support of the HEA ESVH Advisory Group.

• The implementation plan was formally launched by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, at an event in Dublin today, 13 October 2022. Anna Bull, co-director of the 1752 Group which conducts research and campaigns to address sexual misconduct in higher education in the UK, delivered a keynote address at the event. The panel at the event included Noeline Blackwell, Chief Executive Officer of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre; Treasa Fox, Head of Student Counselling TUS Midlands and chair of Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education in Ireland (PCHEI); and Gavin Friel, actor and research assistant with the Active* Consent team at the University of Galway.

• The HEA Advisory Group on Ending Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment in HEIs will maintain oversight of progress towards the delivery of the actions outlined in the plan, in close collaboration with the HEA. The group will meet on a regular basis to monitor implementation.

• #UnmuteConsent is a social media campaign running for the month of October 2022, that aims to mobilise the student community to make a difference, by speaking out, by enhancing their own knowledge about consent, and ultimately, by changing behaviours. It is led by the IUA in partnership with THEA and USI and is supported by the HEA.