Social safety is a lively topic on campus
90% of respondents consider social safety an important issue, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5. Respondents aged 25–40 score the highest (4.6). Motivation to contribute to a socially safe, inclusive, and respectful culture is also high, with an average of 4.3. Male respondents score slightly below average (4.1).
Students and respondents under 25, score slightly lower than average when asked how responsible they feel for contributing to social safety. In contrast, staff, particularly those aged 25–40, feel more responsible than average.
Communication contributes to awareness
Communication around social safety is positively received in several areas. Respondents appreciate clear information about confidential advisors, visibility of the topic in newsletters and other channels, and training initiatives such as the Active Bystander Training. The signs in toilet areas, which describe various forms of undesirable behaviour and where to seek help, is frequently cited as contributing to awareness.
Make it practical and concrete
At the same time, some respondents indicate that communication is sometimes perceived as abstract. There is a clear demand for more concrete language, practical examples, and clarity on what happens after a report on undesirable behaviour is made. Students specifically request more direct communication, for instance, during lectures, through mentors, or as part of the introduction week.
A call for action and training
Training is widely valued and often mentioned as an effective way to raise awareness. Many respondents express a need for practical tools to help identify and address socially unsafe behaviour. A frequently heard suggestion: make participation in these trainings mandatory, especially for supervisors and professionals in the support structure.
What’s next?
The social safety project team will use the survey results to make improvements to policies and communication. The team is working on expanding the training offering. Since early July, the new tailor-made social safety e-learning will be available to all staff. This autumn, training sessions ‘Constructive dialogue’ will begin. Both courses are part of the university’s core training programme, which means participation is expected from all employees. After the summer, a communications campaign will be launched to raise awareness about undesirable behaviour.
Want to know more or share your thoughts? Read the latest project update or contact the team at: socialsafety [at] ru.nl (socialsafety[at]ru[dot]nl)
Would you have liked to share your feedback too? Join the Employee or Student Panel and help shape policies on a range of topics!
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