The Safeguarding Students in Higher Education Conference 2024

Safeguarding students in higher education encompasses a wide range of issues, including tackling sexual harassment, preventing hate crime and supporting student mental health. Organisations such as Universities UK and Office for Students have provided recommendations for universities to consider and implement to ensure students are protected and feel safe on campus. Transforming university culture to have a focus on safeguarding and engaging with students to raise awareness of support paths are just some of the challenges universities face. Now is the time for universities to come together to share best practice and collaborative solutions to build a positive safeguarding culture for students and staff.

• 11% of students believed they have had their drink spiked while at University, as found by A 2022 survey by The Tab
• A 2022 report by Office for Students found that fewer than one in six survivors of sexual assault at university reported it to the police
• Around 85% of universities have a member of the senior executive team directly responsible for student safeguarding, according to a 2020 Freedom of Information request

Join us at the Safeguarding Students in Higher Education Conference 2024 to hear the latest guidance and practical strategies for developing successful safeguarding policies and procedures from experts across higher education. You will hear a variety of case studies showcasing a range of key topics, including co-creating safeguarding measures with students, working in partnership locally to drive safeguarding measures and building confidence in staff to confidently respond to safeguarding needs. You will also have the opportunity to network with senior colleagues from across higher education to share and address common challenges in safeguarding the student body.

Why Attend:

✓ High-level keynotes from leading higher education experts on implementing key safeguarding improvements
✓ Hand-picked case studies demonstrating a range of strategies for preventing and tackling a breadth of safeguarding issues
✓ Network with speakers and senior colleagues from across higher education
✓ CPD (gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota)

NEW AND EXCLUSIVE TO YOUR
CONFERENCE PACKAGE – GE Insights:

This year’s conference package includes 12-months FREE access to GE Insights, our cross-sector learning resource of case study focused videos, articles, lived experiences and more (RRP £199). Gain unlimited access to our online platform when you purchase your conference ticket.

Key benefits include:

 ✓100s of Exclusive Case Studies – fingertip access to videos and articles covering all key sectors including Local Authorities, Voluntary, and Education and ALL CPD certified

 ✓Key Sessions from All Our Conferences – gain valuable insights from our past, present, and future events (160+ pa)

 ✓Articles and Interviews – learn from our network of expert speakers and contributors explore further the key discussions from the conferences

 ✓Additional CPD Hours – automatically earn more for everything you watch, read, and hear

 ✓Your Own CPD Dashboard – charts your progress, allows you to add notes, download your activities, and save/print an official CPD certificate

 ✓Personalised Homepage – only see the relevant content you need to save time

 ✓30+ New Uploads Each Month – we’re adding new content every week to ensure you stay engaged and informed all year round.

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

• 09.00

  Online Registration

• 09.50

  Chair’s Opening Remarks

  Pippa Catterall, Professor of History and Policy, University of Westminster (CONFIRMED)

• 10.00

  Keynote: Changing the Culture: Evaluating Progress and Sharing Frameworks for Success

  • Key principles and approaches to prevent and respond to harassment in all forms, and embed safety into university culture
  • Advice for senior leaders: securing staff buy-in for culture change and leading improvements from the top-down
  • Insights into working collaboratively with students, the third sector and local communities to effectively safeguard students
  • Progress update: best practice examples of successful responses and guidance on future areas for improvement
  • Considerations and immediate actions for universities to tackle the increase in spiking across universities

  Andrew Wootton, Director, ProtectED (CONFIRMED)

  Prof Caroline L. Davey, Director, ProtectED (CONFIRMED)

• 10.20

  Keynote: Creating Robust Safeguarding Policies and Interventions to Enhance the Student Experience

  • Understanding and addressing the key safeguarding factors that impact student wellbeing and experience
  • Key insights into the primary safeguarding measures students highlighted as needing improvement and what worked well
  • Takeaways on student wellbeing: recovering from Covid-19 and responding to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis
  • Resources and tools to measure student experience and engage with students to inform safeguarding policies and procedures

  Rose Stephenson, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Higher Education Policy Institute (CONFIRMED)

• 10.40

  Key Supporter Session

• 11.00

  Questions and Answers

• 11.20

  Comfort Break

• 11.35

  Case Study: Engaging with Students to Co-Create Successful Safeguarding Policies

  • Advice on forming a successful working relationship with the Student Union and facilitating practical conversations
  • Data techniques to measure and understand current student attitudes towards certain issues and policies
  • Measures to engage with students and gain input into safeguarding and anti-harassment policies
  • Delivering widespread EDI and safety training to students as they enter university to gain whole-university buy-in

  Elisabeth Day, Head of Student Policy & Safeguarding, University of Bath (CONFIRMED)

• 11.55

  Keynote: Safeguarding Students: Preventing and Tackling Sexual Misconduct and Harassment

  • Developing a practical approach to tackling sexual misconduct and harassment at university
  • Tips on improving investigations and hearings regarding student complaints of sexual misconduct
  • Upskilling staff to effectively support students who come forward as victims of sexual misconduct or harassment

  Professor Melissa Hamilton, Professor of Law and Criminal Justice, University of Surrey (CONFIRMED)

• 12.15

  Case Study: Working in Partnership with Local Stakeholders to Deliver Wrap-around Safeguarding Support

  • Collaborating with key stakeholders support survivors of rape and sexual abuse
  • Forming best practice partnerships and pooling resources to drive holistic support and engage with hard-to-reach students
  • Strategies for accessing funding locally to deliver training and resources on sexual harassment in the community
  • Collaborating with the private sector to promote anti-harassment resources to students in local clubs and bars
  • Working with students to create campaigns in local clubs that signpost those who have experienced sexual violence and harassment to help

  Professor Philip Vickerman, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Student Experience), Professor of Inclusive Education and Learning, Liverpool John Moores University (CONFIRMED)

• 12.35

  Questions and Answers

• 12.55

  Lunch Break

• 13.35

  Keynote: Safeguarding Audits: Themes and Trends in Higher Education Settings

  • Safeguarding with a Big S and a little S
  • Why the safeguarding line of sight and governance from executive and trustee teams to front line practice and user experience is vital
  • Discuss how culture, leadership and robust systems can enable or inhibit effective safeguarding implementation
  • How effective relationships with external partners can improve safeguarding and reduce the carrying of unnecessary risk
  • How ‘the golden thread of safeguarding’ develop safeguarding cultures via effective communication and messaging from senior leaders

  Suzanne Cottrell, Safeguarding Audits Manager, Social Care Institute for Excellence (CONFIRMED)

• 13.55

  Case Study: Ensuring Access to High-Quality Mental Health Support for Students

  • Offering a range of counselling and therapy in-house to ensure students receive timely and tailored mental health support
  • Advice on employing Mental Health Advisors to create an informal space for students to receive support and be signposted to the correct services
  • Developing a digital platform for students to access 24/7 mental health support
  • Resources and guidance for staff: responding to a student experiencing extreme mental health difficulties
  • Delivering bespoke mental health training for staff across different faculties

  Mary Flaherty, Associate Director, Advice, Wellbeing & Welfare, King’s College London (invited)

• 14.15

  Questions and Answers

• 14.35

  Breakout Networking: Overcoming Obstacles to Provide Holistic Safeguarding Support to Students

  This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss the main challenges you face in successfully preventing safeguarding risks and effectively responding to reports. This will allow you to share your experiences and encourage cross sector collaboration.

• 15.05

  Comfort Break

• 15.20

  Case Study: Building Clear Reporting Mechanisms and Training Programmes to Reduce Hate Crimes

  • No Place for Hate campaign: insights into developing an effective campaign against hate crime and sustaining momentum
  • Hate Crime Awareness Training: providing opportunities for students and staff to learn how to intervene against hate crimes
  • Signposting victims to a series of external support services and creating clear pathways to escalate issues and receive help
  • Working with the private sector to develop bespoke micro-learning courses to raise awareness of misogyny and hate crime

  Louise Mullany, Professor in Sociolinguistics, Faculty of Arts, University of Nottingham (CONFIRMED)

• 15.40

  Case Study: Embedding Online Harassment into Safeguarding Policies and Interventions

  • Identifying best practice policies and procedures for tackling online harassment based on the results of the Online Harassment report
  • Strategies for embedding online concerns into anti-harassment and safeguarding policies
  • Tools for incorporating online sexual abuse training and awareness raising into existing training and platforms
  • Collaborating with external bodies to receive specialist input on complicated online harassment issues
  • Methods to ensure senior leadership focus on online safeguarding and scrutinise current interventions

  Professor Andy Phippen, Professor of IT Ethics and Digital Rights, University of Bournemouth (invited)

• 16.00

  Questions and Answers

• 16.20

  Chair’s Closing Remarks

  *programme subject to change without notice

Who Should Attend?

*This Conference is open to Public, Private and Third Sectors

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

We are now taking bookings for our wide range of sponsorship and exhibition packages; we also offer bespoke packages tailored for your organisation.

Why Sponsor and Exhibit at this event:

✓ Network with key decision makers from across the sector
✓ Meet your target audience
✓ Listen and Learn from leading experts from across the further education sector
✓ Opportunity to demonstrate your products or services
✓ Speak alongside industry leading experts
✓ Work with your dedicated account manager to generate the maximum amount of leads

Exhibition and Sponsorship Packages:

Strategic Headline Sponsor:

• 20-minute speaking slot followed by Q&A
• 3x2m Exhibition Space (In the Refreshments and Catering room)
• Pre show marketing email to all registered delegates
• Post show inclusion on presentation email
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• A4 Insert or A4 Chair Drop
• 5 Delegate Conference Passes
• 1 Speaker Pass

Key Supporter Package:

• 20-minute speaking slot followed by Q&A
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• A4 Insert or Chair Drop
• 1 Speaker Pass
• 2 Delegate Conference Passes

Exhibition Stand:

• 3x2m Exhibition Space (In the Refreshments and Catering room)
• Power, Wifi, Table and 2 Chairs (If required)
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• 2 Delegate Conference Passes
• 1 Stand Manager Pass

Insert or Chair Drop:

• 1 Delegate Conference Pass
• A4 insert into delegate pack or A4 Chair Drop

For more information or to discuss your requirements, please contact the team on 0330 0584 285, or sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form and we will contact you.

• Public Sector: £449+VAT
• Voluntary Sector: £379+VAT
• Private Sector: £649+VAT