TheCity

Tag: educations

  • Surveys planned to research harassment and sexual harassment in Third Level institutions

    Surveys planned to research harassment and sexual harassment in Third Level institutions

    On Thursday, 26th of November, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris announced that surveys will be carried out to research harassment, sexual harassment and bullying of both students and staff in Third Level colleges and universities. Erin Killoran explores why there’s a need for these surveys.


    Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris recently announced that surveys will be carried out to research harassment, sexual harassment and bullying of both students and staff in Third Level colleges and universities. These are being carried out in order to tackle the ongoing harassment issue in higher education institutions. During an Irish University Association event, Harris said: “ These action plans will involve, the implementation of systems that record the number of incidents of bullying, intimidation or harassment including sexual harassment.”

    This announcement follows a letter written by Harris to the presidents of these colleges outlining plans to implement zero tolerance for bullying and sexual harassment in all of these institutions throughout the country. 

    The survey is due to begin next year, where the Higher Education Authority will be closely linked to Third Level institutions. 

    Speaking to TheCity.ie, former counsellor Siobhan Carroll said: “I think it’s very important that this survey is conducted, therefore if an issue arises, it can be dealt with accordingly.”

    According to a study carried out by National Bullying For Educational Statistics, 20.2% of higher education students report experiencing bullying. Carroll said: “Being bullied in college or in your workplace can have long lasting effects into later life, which can in some cases, have detrimental effects on these victims. 

    “People assume that bullying is just a childhood experience. In order to fully address this problem, we need to destigmatize bullying in adulthood.”

    Former student Shannon Jordan said: “I was bullied throughout the entirety of my two year course, which made me dread going in each day. However, this wasn’t from one of my peers, it was a tutor of mine.” 

    Describing her experience, she said: “I tried to ignore it in the beginning, but there was a point when I accepted it and realised that I was constantly being picked on by this person. To this day I regret never reporting this behaviour, because they made me miserable every day for two full years.”

    If you are experiencing harassment or sexual harassment, ensure to report this to your college, or alternatively there are plenty of helplines available to listen to regarding your experience and any concerns that you may have.

    Jordan spoke about her hope for this survey: “If these figures are documented and reported, I’d like to see if colleges and universities will implement ways to stop this kind of behaviour from occurring and it could also encourage others to come forward and report what they are going through.”

    The overall impact and result of this survey will not be determined until next year, but hopefully there will be a positive impact and it will bring us one step closer to a zero tolerance attitude for bullying and harassment in Third Level institutions. 

    Available helplines:

    Pieta House: 01 601 0000

    Samaritans: 1850 60 90 900

    Teen-Line Ireland: 1800 833 634

    BodyWhys: 1890 200 444

  • While the SUSI grant helps many, some students still fall through the cracks

    While the SUSI grant helps many, some students still fall through the cracks

    Just over 85,000 college students received a grant under the 2018 Student Grant Scheme according to figures released by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) under Freedom of Information legislation.

    During the 2018 academic year, 98,508 applications for a grant were submitted to SUSI’s Awarding Authority. This means a total of 13,483 students were refused a grant, a figure that has risen from 10,623 in 2017.

    SUSI is Ireland’s single national awarding authority for all higher and further education grants. Beginning in 2012, SUSI offered funding to eligible students in approved full-time third-level education in Ireland and also, in some cases, funding for students studying outside the State.

    Students are split into two categories for assessment, dependent and independent students. Dependent students are assessed on their own income and that of their parents/legal guardians, whereas independent students are assessed on their own income and that of their cohabitant.

    Robert Ralph has been refused the grant every year he has been in college (now in his final year), despite meeting the criteria for the grant.

    “Since I was leaving school and getting my Leaving cert results I knew I’d need to apply for the SUSI grant to get by in college because I wasn’t working at the start of first year and only my dad was working at home. On top of that, my older brother was a couple of years ahead in college and my younger brother was coming into the leaving cert at school so it was a pretty expensive time for the family.”

    Having been refused during his first two years of college, Robert was faced with the decision to struggle through or defer and save money and come back to the course at a later date.

    “Halfway through first year I finally managed to get myself a job just working in a clothes shop in the shopping centre next to my house, but I was really only able to do enough hours that would give me enough money to cover food and transport for the week and it was tough to have a social life on that kind of budget.

    “I did that routine for year one and two but in third year after getting refused again, I decided to take on close to full-time hours in work just so I’d have a surplus of money rather than having to scrape by and I was still doing 30 or so hours of lectures a week on top of all the studying as well.”

    With over 10,000 students refused in each of the last three academic years, there are calls for applications to become more transparent.

    “Each year it’s the same story with SUSI, to be honest,” said Robert. “I just apply for it out of habit because I know I’m not going to get it. The whole process could do with being a bit more open because I haven’t been given a specific reason for being refused despite being within the criteria for it and it can be like chasing shadows at times when trying to chase up replies or to see what stage your application is at.

    “I know every case is different and they can’t give one to everyone but there’s definitely hundreds of genuine people in need being refused every year and something has to be done about that. College is difficult enough as it is without having to top it off with financial pressure.”