Equally Safe in Colleges and Universities Core Leadership Group minutes: August 2023

Attendees and apologies

Attendees

• Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education
• Debbie Browett, Scottish Government
• Jeff Gibbons, Scottish Government
• Daniel McCarron, Scottish Government
• Adam Rendall, Scottish Government
• Fiona Drouet, EmilyTest
• Susannah Lane, Universities Scotland
• Jill Stevenson, University of Stirling/AMOSSHE
• Eilidh Fulton, Scottish Funding Council
• Lisa Waiting, Rape Crisis Scotland
• Gail Toms, College Development Network
• Claire Vekic, Colleges Scotland
• Olaf Stando, National Union of Students Scotland
• Nick Edwards, University of Aberdeen/Universities HR Network

Apologies

• Rachel Adamson, Scottish Funding Council
• Kathryn Dawson, Rape Crisis Scotland
• Davena Rankin, UNISON

Items and actions

Introduction, welcome and apologies

The Minister welcomed members to the meeting. Debbie Browett (Scottish Government) noted the apologies as above.

Minutes of previous meeting

The note of the previous meeting was agreed, subject to the final version being amended to reflect that Nick Edwards had sent in his apologies.

NTIA anti-spiking pods

Jeff Gibbons (Scottish Government) informed members that regular Ministerial roundtables have been held on spiking, which bring together stakeholders to consider initiatives to undertake in this area.

At the June roundtable, a representative from the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) spoke about ‘anti-spiking pods’. These are pods which attach to a keyring and contain some information on spiking and some anti-spiking tools such as bottle tops and testing strips. He noted that Scottish Government would have to work closely with Police Scotland as some items, e.g. testing strips, may not be considered evidential and it would be important to make that clear when distributing the pods.

The Scottish Government are in discussion with NTIA to potentially pilot the use of the pods around Halloween at one Scottish University, and to subsequently evaluate their effectiveness in tackling instances of spiking.

The Minister noted that this work would target non-licensed premises, and asked the reasoning behind this.

Jeff Gibbons advised there is a focus on non-licensed premises due to them being more difficult to police, and licensed premises generally being more advanced with regards spiking prevention.

The Minister asked what work has been done to raise awareness around spiking at such venues.

Jeff Gibbons referenced the Safer Scot website which has practical information and advice on spiking, which is promoted with student unions and societies.

Jeff Gibbons informed members that a further roundtable meeting will take place around October and the Scottish Government intends to engage with Universities Scotland regarding which institution would be the most appropriate to launch the pilot.

Susannah Lane (Universities Scotland) offered to liaise with universities to gauge where there is interest in hosting the pilot.
The Minister commented that the pilot should be at scale, so at an institution which has sizeable student population and potentially where a particular issue with spiking has been previously identified.

Jeff Gibbons noted that this will factor into the Scottish Government’s considerations.

Updates on the collection of criminal convictions data

Universities

Susannah Lane reported that:

• Scottish universities are close to being able to confirm a consistent legal basis to allow institutions to collect data from new and current students, on data related to criminal convictions and charges, where relevant.
• A Data Protection Impact Assessment has been completed by Scottish Higher Education Information Practitioners group (SHEIP), which has been shared with Scottish Government officials.
• Related legal advice has been sought from the perspectives of data protection, student contract law and duty to do no harm by omission. Final written confirmation has not yet been received, however Universities Scotland has had verbal advice that their approach is legally sound.
• Conversations have taken place with stakeholders in relation to the impact of the proposed approach with specific regard for rehabilitated offenders.
• Universities Scotland has written to the Public Petitions and Citizen Participation committee, outlining their ongoing work in this area, and she is happy to share that submission with members post-meeting. The petitioner, Ellie Wilson, is being kept informed on the ongoing work.

Action: Susannah Lane to share Universities Scotland approach with members.

Susannah Lane then proposed that a next step would be to hold a roundtable with the relevant stakeholders, Scottish Government and university principals, in order to develop guidance around implementation.

The Minister welcomed the progress being made by Universities Scotland and asked how soon the new approach could be implemented across institutions.

Susannah Lane indicated that the guidance could be developed by the end of the current calendar year, but that it may take longer for some institutions to be able to implement it into their practice. She further noted that applications for 2024/25 open during the first semester of the 2023/24 academic year. In addition, further work would need to be undertaken with university Admissions Directors to ensure that communication with students is clear so that it does not present a barrier to admission.

Nick Edwards (University of Aberdeen/Universities HR Network) commented that the University of Aberdeen now collect criminal proceedings data and that he is happy to share learning with other institutions.

The Minister acknowledged that it is important for messaging to be clear, and thanked everyone involved for their work on this to date.

Fiona Drouet (EmilyTest) commented that it is encouraging to see this work moving forward at pace.

Colleges

Claire Vekic (Colleges Scotland) outlined an approach being taken forward collaboratively by Colleges Scotland and Scottish Government to consider the safeguarding policies of nine Scottish colleges.

Debbie Browett further commented that this approach will establish whether there is in fact a need for the college sector to obtain legal advice.

The Minister commented that he would like to see this work move forward quickly, and asked whether further work needs to take place to allow for the sharing of information between higher and further education institutions for students articulating into university from a college.

Susannah Lane said it was her understanding that no new process would be required as these would be classed as new students and thus captured by the process that Scottish universities will transition to, but that colleagues in SHEIP could provide a technical answer.

ESCU strategic and operating plans – updates and next steps

The Minister invited members to provide updates on progress against the Strategic and Operating aims of the Group.

Fiona Drouet commented that EmilyTest is making significant progress with GBV Charter-affiliated institutions, with a particular focus on prevention, and the sharing of best practice. She also offered to share a comprehensive update with members.

Action: Fiona Drouet to share a comprehensive update on EmilyTest’s progress against the Group’s strategic aims, with members.

Nick Edwards added that the University of Aberdeen has progressed by working with the GBV Charter and that it has helped to focus and galvanise a lot of its work on GBV.

Jill Stevenson (University of Stirling/AMOSSHE) reported that, at the University of Stirling, there has been a focus on welcome and open days and campaigns. She added that further work at Stirling and across the sector includes work on spiking, staff and student training programs, mandatory pre-entry awareness modules, first responder training, disclosures, referral pathways, report and support mechanisms and investment in support of dedicated GBV/first responder posts. She further commented that new data reflects an increase of reporting measures being used which she believes shows an increase in awareness and confidence in reporting GBV.

Susannah Lane reported that work is underway to analyse the progress in institutions under the “Changing the Culture” strategy. She also expressed the view that work tackling GBV is unlikely to end given that there is a new cohort of students each year.

Lisa Waiting (Rape Crisis Scotland) said that GBV reporting data trends in institutions undergoing Rape Crisis Scotland training reflect increased awareness, and reported that 16 institutions have implemented an awareness module (including content on unhealthy relationships, “support a friend” and being an active bystander) however none of them have made it mandatory, which she believes is halting progress. She commented that Rape Crisis Scotland is looking to expand the uptake of the peer-led “train the trainer” module.

Emily Test GBV Charter summer application cycle

Fiona Drouet reported that applications to the GBV Charter are open until 31 August, and that they have received feedback on the Charter and refined the process accordingly. She also announced that the GBV Charter Conference will take place on 22 November 2023 in Glasgow. 

The Minister asked whether the GBV Charter deadline can extend in light of marking boycotts within institutions.

Fiona Drouet said that she is sympathetic to pressures faced by institutions and that EmilyTest would try to facilitate a short extension.

AOB

Future chairing arrangements

The Minister told the Group that he would no longer be chairing meetings of the Core Leadership Group but will retain oversight and a keen interest in the Group’s work. He then asked members to come forward with suggestions for future chairing arrangements.

The group agreed that Scottish Government officials would chair the next meeting of the group.

Action: Scottish Government officials to chair the next meeting of the Group.

New group members

The group agreed Detective Superintendent Stevie Bertram’s (Police Scotland) membership of the Core Leadership Group as of the next meeting.

Action: Scottish Government to confirm Stevie Bertram’s membership of the Group and hold an introductory meeting with him.

Debbie Browett asked members to contact Scottish Government officials with any further suggestions for new members. 

Action: Members to suggest any additional members for inclusion in the Group by way of correspondence.

Date of next meeting

The next meeting of this group will take place on Tuesday 16 January 2024 at 15:45.