Social safety

Dossier
News/Events
Last edit: 24 May 2024
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Social safety is fundamental for everyone working at, studying at, or visiting UT. Respect, integrity, honesty, and consideration for others are expected on our campus and within our organisation. Being confronted with an unsafe situation or inappropriate behaviour can have a huge impact. If you feel unsafe, mistreated or if you have witnessed an unsafe situation, please inform people around you and try to talk about it. Various support professionals are here to help you whenever you need it, no matter what. Our skilled and committed professionals are always there for you to listen, talk things through and to act. Decisively, respectfully and with an open mind.

I am a student. How and from whom can I get help?

Have you been affected by something or someone? And do you want information about who (or what) to turn to for help, support or counselling? Please take a look at the overview below to learn how to proceed in various (potentially) unsafe or harmful situations.

  • Inappropriate behaviour

    There are many forms of inappropriate behaviour. It is you who decides what you consider to be inappropriate behaviour. Behaviour can be inappropriate if a person's direct or indirect acts or remarks affect your personal integrity in whatever way either verbally, non-verbally, physically, online or via text or video.

    Have you been confronted with inappropriate behaviour? You can always turn to our confidential advisors. A confidential advisor lends a listening ear in situations of inappropriate behaviour or unequal treatment, is independent and has a duty of confidentiality towards others, such as lecturers and university institutions. The confidential advisor will always be on your side and offers moral and emotional support.

    Confidential advisors

    dr. M. Drent (Marjolein)
    dr. M. Drent (Marjolein)
    Student Counsellor, confidential advisor for students and PhD/EngD Counsellor
    drs. F.B.L.J. Oei MD (Frido)
    drs. F.B.L.J. Oei MD (Frido)
    Student Counsellor, confidential advisor for students and PhD/EngD Counsellor
  • Sexual harassment

    There are many forms of sexual harassment. Think of dealing with sexually suggestive comments (spoken or written) or non-verbal gestures. Or maybe someone is trying to force themselves on you, without your consent. In the Netherlands, sharing photos or videos without your permission (image-based sexual abuse) is a criminal act of harassment.

    Have you been confronted with sexual harassment? You can always turn to our confidential advisors. A confidential advisor lends a listening ear in situations of unacceptable (sexual) behaviour, is independent and has a duty of confidentiality towards others, such as lecturers and university institutions. The confidential advisor will always be on your side and offers moral and emotional support.

    CONFIDENTIAL advisors

    dr. M. Drent (Marjolein)
    dr. M. Drent (Marjolein)
    Student Counsellor, confidential advisor for students and PhD/EngD Counsellor
    drs. F.B.L.J. Oei MD (Frido)
    drs. F.B.L.J. Oei MD (Frido)
    Student Counsellor, confidential advisor for students and PhD/EngD Counsellor

    Please keep in mind that setting and protecting your personal boundaries is crucial. Remember that, if something does happen, you are not to blame. Try to find someone you trust and try to talk about it. Make sure that if there is any evidence, you keep it. Always seek support.

  • Sexual violence

    Sexual violence is when someone touches you in a sexual manner without your explicit consent. This includes pinching, stroking, licking, kissing or rubbing. Having sex against your will, with or without forced penetration, without your explicit consent, is considered to be a severe criminal offence in the Netherlands.

    If you have experienced sexual violence, please try to talk about is and always seek help. Confide in somebody you trust and let them help you. This may be a family member, a fellow student, a friend, a study advisor, a confidential advisor, student counsellor, a lecturer or the safety coordinator. Remember that, if something does happen, you are not to blame. Do you need immediate help? Please call the Sexual Assault Centre in Enschede via 0800-0188 (open 24/7).

    Always remember that you are not to blame. Try to find someone you trust and try to talk about it. Make sure that if there is any evidence, you keep it. Always seek support.

Confidential Contact Person


Do you prefer to talk to a UT student? Then a Confidential Contact Person (CCP) is your contact. They are trained to be peer listeners and will keep everything you share completely confidential. They support you if you are struggling with something, no matter how big or small. Let’s talk about it!

A comprehensive overview of the options available to students for reporting integrity violations can be found in the roadmap below. It also outlines what you can do if you and your fellow students encounter issues with regulations or if there is a potential data breach.

I am an employee. How and from whom can I get help?

Have you been affected by something or someone? And do you want information about who (or what) to turn to for help, support or counselling? Please take a look at the overview below to learn how to proceed in various (potentially) unsafe or harmful situations.

  • Inappropriate behaviour

    There are many forms of inappropriate behaviour. It is you who decide what you consider to be inappropriate behaviour. Behaviour can be inappropriate if a person's direct or indirect acts or remarks affect your personal integrity in whatever way either verbally, non-verbally, physically, online or via text or video.

    Have you been confronted with inappropriate behaviour? Talk about it with your manager, supervisor or with an HR advisor. Is this not feasible or do you prefer not to do so? You can always consult one of the confidential advisors. A confidential advisor acts as a trusted sounding board, mediator and counsellor, and is not in a position to make judgements.

    Confidential advisors

    dr.ir. L.L. olde Scholtenhuis (Léon)
    dr.ir. L.L. olde Scholtenhuis (Léon)
    Associate Professor
    drs. L.D. Vargas Llona (Laura)
    drs. L.D. Vargas Llona (Laura)
    Project Coordinator, Policy Advisor and Confidential Counselor
    P.D. Weber (Petra)
    P.D. Weber (Petra)
    Management Assistant / Office Assistant
    dr. S. Amer (Sherif)
    dr. S. Amer (Sherif)
    Senior Lecturer
    dr. L. Gatti (Lorenzo)
    dr. L. Gatti (Lorenzo)
    Assistant Professor
  • Threats and intimidation

    Do you feel threatened or intimidated either online or in person and is there an acute threat? Call 112 (the Dutch emergency number) and/or (053 489) 2222 (Campus Security) immediately and turn to your supervisor or manager as soon as possible. In any other case, always talk to your supervisor or reach out to Erwin Medendorp, UT's Integral Safety Manager and our Head of Security via wetenschapveilig@utwente.nl. They will support you and look into ways of tackling the issues faced.

  • Sexual harassment

    There are many forms of sexual harassment. Think of dealing with sexually suggestive comments (spoken or written) or non-verbal gestures. Or maybe someone is trying to force themselves on you, without your consent. In the Netherlands, sharing photos or videos without your permission (image-based sexual abuse) is a criminal act of harassment.

    Have you been confronted with sexual harassment? Try to talk about it with your manager, supervisor or with an HR advisor. Is this not feasible or do you prefer not to do so? You can always consult one of the confidential advisors. A confidential advisor acts as a trusted sounding board, mediator and counsellor, and is not in a position to make judgements.

    CONFIDENTIAL ADVISoRS

    dr.ir. L.L. olde Scholtenhuis (Léon)
    dr.ir. L.L. olde Scholtenhuis (Léon)
    Associate Professor
    drs. L.D. Vargas Llona (Laura)
    drs. L.D. Vargas Llona (Laura)
    Project Coordinator, Policy Advisor and Confidential Counselor
    P.D. Weber (Petra)
    P.D. Weber (Petra)
    Management Assistant / Office Assistant
    dr. S. Amer (Sherif)
    dr. S. Amer (Sherif)
    Senior Lecturer
    dr. L. Gatti (Lorenzo)
    dr. L. Gatti (Lorenzo)
    Assistant Professor

    Please keep in mind that setting and protecting your personal boundaries is crucial. Remember that, if something does happen, you are not to blame. Try to find someone you trust and try to talk about it. Make sure that if there is any evidence, you keep it. Always seek support.

  • Sexual violence

    Sexual violence is when someone touches you in a sexual manner without your explicit consent. This includes pinching, stroking, licking, kissing or rubbing. Having sex against your will, with or without forced penetration, without your explicit consent, is considered to be a severe criminal offence in the Netherlands.

    If you have experienced sexual violence, please try to talk about it and always seek help. Confide in somebody you trust and let them help you. This may be a family member, a colleague, a friend, a confidential advisor, a lecturer or the safety coordinator. Remember that, if something does happen, you are not to blame. Do you need immidiate help? Please call the Sexual Assault Centre in Enschede via 0800-0188 (open 24/7).

    Always remember that you are not to blame. Try to find someone you trust and try to talk about it. Make sure that if there is any evidence, you keep it. Always seek support.

Ombuds officer for students and employees

Ombuds Officer Han Warmelink is here to lend a sympathetic ear, and to provide advice, guidance and mediation services. He can refer people to the appropriate authority, or he may decide to investigate the matter personally. The position of Ombuds Officer complements the confidential advisors, complaints committee, student psychologists, study advisors and the student counsellors. The Ombuds Officer is an impartial and independent professional who is available to all community members.

mr.dr. H.G. Warmelink (Han)
mr.dr. H.G. Warmelink (Han)
Ombuds Officer

Integral safety management

Social safety is one component of integral safety. Integral Safety Manager Erwin Medendorp co-ordinates all safety related matters and aims to resolve these matters in collaboration with all relevant professionals. If you have a general question about social safety or do you feel you have been given unsatisfactory support, do not hesitate to reach out to Erwin. 

G.W. Medendorp (Erwin)
G.W. Medendorp (Erwin)
Integral Safety manager

GUIDELINES, CODES of conduct and scientific integrity 

All our codes of conducts, guidelines, and procedures that form the foundation of how we interact with each other, what we can and should expect from each other, and which procedures we can follow in case an unsafe situation arises, can be found in this overview for staff and in this overview of regulations for students. More detailed information about scientific integrity can be read on our topic page on integrity and ethics.  

CAMPAIGN ON SOCIAL SAFETY AND DE&I

You might have spotted some slides showing "Respect each other's space. Talk about it" or "Act on it!". These pivotal messages lie at the very core of our dedicated efforts, centred around social safety and normalising diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I). In our communication campaign, we seek to highlight the profound significance of respectfully considering one another's experiences, values, and perspectives during interactions, each stemming from our own "bubbles".

As we forge ahead, we will gradually introduce an array of additional initiatives and tools, starting at the onset of the upcoming academic year. The visual in this page's header (desktop version) shows you how the campaign looks and what you can expect. If you are viewing this page on your mobile phone, you can download an image to see how we raise awareness about social safety in interactions and encourage you to seek help if needed. So you can talk about it, and we can act on it together.

Visual campaign "Social safety concerns all of us"

Do you want to know more about this campaign? Just get in touch with Linda Pasqual-van der Landen, and she'd be happy to discuss your questions and ideas.

drs. L. Pasqual - van der Landen (Linda)
drs. L. Pasqual - van der Landen (Linda)
Policy and Communication advisor Diversity | Equity | Inclusion | Integral Safety

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