Better TUgether, This is how we care. Social safety update September
Together, we build a safer, more inclusive, and respectful study and working environment at the university. Each month, we reflect on the previous month: what actions were taken as part of the Plan for Change, and we look ahead to the upcoming month: what's on the agenda. The update covers the topics outlined in the Plan for Change: Culture, Structure, and Systems.
Last month
Work visit to the Dutch Public Broadcasting System (NPO)
A delegation from the TU Delft visited the NPO in late August. The NPO spoke candidly and in confidence about how they dealt with cases involving social safety at the time. TU Delft will take on board the insights gained by them.
Social safety focus during the OWee
Social safety was one of the focal points during the OWee intro week (18 - 22 August), with the aim of creating a safe environment for students in Delft and making the threshold for seeking help as low as possible. You can read more about the initiatives below.
Komende maand
TU Delft has appointed three new internal confidential advisers for social and organisational integrity (VPSO), effective from 1 September 2024. They are Benedikt Ahrens, Christiaan Schinkel and Sue van de Giessen. The new advisers were able to join a multi-day confidentiality training course, which had already been scheduled for August and September. Upon completing this training, they will take part in a national exam, after which they will be formally certified. TU Delft’s team of confidential advisers is an easily accessible resource for students, employees, or guests who encounter inappropriate behaviour or other potential integrity violations. The adviser listens to your story and can provide support if required; however, you remain in control of what happens next.
Share & Care workshop Tuesday 3 September 2024
What is Share & Care?
A pilot project creating opportunities for connection and healing for staff and students who feel affected by developments related to social safety at TU Delft since March 2024. The pilot is expected to run from October 2024 to January 2025.
What is the co-creation workshop?
The co-creation workshop, part of the development process, aligns with the principles of the Plan for Change: ‘participatory’ and ‘nothing about us without us.’ With a diverse group of people who either have a direct need for the intervention or are familiar with people's experiences, we further explored what the needs are, which interventions are suitable, and the preconditions necessary for creating a safe environment.
What did it achieve?
A more nuanced understanding of where people’s pain points and needs lie, and what that means for implementing the interventions. Many valuable suggestions and key areas of focus emerged. While safeguarding the privacy of all involved, the interventions should provide recommendations and bring about real improvements. Participants emphasised the importance of creating a community for those who have felt unsafe, with the concept of shared healing emerging as a key theme. Additionally, it was found that allies are also keen to listen to and learn from the experiences of those who have felt or feel unsafe. This enables participants to learn how they can support their colleagues and collectively contribute to a positive working and study environment.
Reporting to Education Inspectorate
TU Delft takes the findings of the Education Inspectorate and the Labour Inspectorate very seriously. Improving social safety within our university is of the utmost priority. It is an absolute basic requirement that our university is a socially safe place for everyone to study, pursue a PhD, conduct research, teach, and work.
In recent months, we have embarked on an intensive process to collaboratively develop an improvement plan aimed at achieving the desired cultural change. We are working daily on a package of measures. These include raising awareness (e.g., through Mindlab performances, walk-in consultations, training sessions for managers/board members, and increased focus on this issue during OWee and introduction weeks), developing more knowledge and skills among managers and board members, and optimally establishing a system that ensures clear measures, communication, and accessibility in the areas of prevention, reporting, inquiry, and aftercare.
In addition to maintaining communication with the Education Inspectorate, we are also engaging with trade unions to keep them involved and connected.
Sounding board group on social safety
A sounding board group comprising 20 employees is currently being formed. This group represents the diversity of perspectives, experiences, and ideas within TU Delft. The sounding board group will regularly discuss ideas, questions, reflections, and observations concerning social safety within TU Delft. The group will hold its first meeting in September.
Under the microscope
We look back on a convivial OWee. Social safety was addressed in various ways. We highlight two initiatives:
- The Well-Being Roadmap helps get (new) students on the right track when they are struggling with a problem.
- For the third year in a row, the “Ben je oké?” campaign (Rutgers) was deployed in cooperation with all associations. Anyone who feels uncomfortable or has experienced or seen something unpleasant can report it to a person wearing the so-called “Ben je oké?” wristband.