Active Bystander bookings for workshops are open for 2024–2025!

“This UCL course… makes me feel that I have made the right decision to study at UCL. Having such an education is of great significance for a person to become a good citizen and create a better society. I'm really starting to really like UCL!!” 

Problematic Behaviours at UCL and Beyond  

Between February 2021 and February 2022, UCL’s reporting platform Report + Support received 587 reports, with 340 reports of bullying (57.9%), 198 reports of harassment (33.7%), and 99 reports of sexual misconduct (16.8%), showing an increase in reports in all categories since the previous year. Notably, Black and Asian students and staff have filed twice as many reports as their White peers. Given that most incidents of unacceptable and unlawful behaviours go unreported, these figures are likely to represent only a small portion of the issue. For example, only 42% of students who experienced racial harassment in the 2021-22 academic year in the UK ended up reporting the incident to their university. It is all our responsibility to contribute to the creation of a safe environment on campus where our diverse student body can learn and grow.  

The Bystander Effect  

People often fail, however, to intervene in crucial situations.  The bystander effect happens when the presence of others discourages an individual from intervening in emergencies, standing up to a bully, or taking proactive approaches when it comes to witnessing an assault or other unacceptable behaviours. This may happen for a variety of reasons, including personal biases, the diffusion of responsibility, feeling unsure, powerless, or unprepared to help, or having concerns about personal safety. Since many harmful behaviours are under-reported, it is important to be aware of the consequences of these behaviours and what can be done to safely intervene in order to create a safe and healthy community.  

The Active Bystander Programme  

The Active Bystander Programme aims to address this. As a core part of students’ induction at UCL, it strives to support students to recognise and challenge problematic behaviours, such as bullying, harassment, micro-aggressions, and sexual misconduct both on- and off-campus. The programme is part of our journey towards social and cultural change and to date, we have trained over 40,000 students. In 2023-24 alone, over 6,000 students have engaged with the Active Bystander Programme.  

It provides students with the tools to safely intervene if they witness or experience any of these unacceptable behaviours. The training consists of two parts – an online module, available via the Students’ Union website, and a student-led live workshop that is typically organised in collaboration with UCL’s departments. The topics covered include: the “Bystander Effect”, recognising unacceptable behaviours, privilege and power, tools to become an Active Bystander, accessing support, as well as group-based case study discussions. Students have to complete both parts of our programme to become an Active Bystander at UCL. 

Moreover, by participating in the Active Bystander Programme, students become empowered to act when they see something wrong, fostering a culture of accountability, respect, and inclusion. By booking these workshops, departments help to improve students’ sense of belonging, foster peer connections, and ensure a safe and inclusive environment across the university. This not only benefits the university community but also prepares students to be conscientious and proactive citizens beyond their academic life. 

“This online module is essential for fostering a safe and inclusive environment on college campuses and understanding the rights and responsibilities of individuals.  It equips students to navigate challenging situations, be respectful of others, and contribute to a positive learning atmosphere.” 

Working with Departments 

To enhance students’ sense of belonging at UCL, the programme works closely with departments to book their cohorts onto our workshops. This collaborative approach ensures that students build strong, supportive relationships with their peers, whilst anchoring this sense of community and belonging within their departments. As the Active Bystander training is emphasised by UCL as a core part of students’ induction, it is imperative that departments support the programme. Departments that book active bystander workshops are making a commitment to their students' well-being and development. By embedding this training within departmental activities, we reinforce the message that everyone has a role to play in maintaining a respectful and supportive community. 

Following the introduction of bespoke workshops for different levels of study, this academic year we have offered these workshops to department by default. These workshops include content and scenarios that are particularly pertinent for the students based on their level of study. For example, staff-student misconduct, misconduct in academia, or misconduct during fieldwork. These workshops have enabled us to deliver high-quality, targeted training to students across the institution. For example, in PhD workshops, we have scenarios that focus on research and teaching, and do not have scenarios about unacceptable behaviours perpetrated in student halls as that would not be as relevant to them.  

We have also updated our content based on student feedback and will offer students certificates of completion as incentives for completing the training, as reflected by responses to this year’s departmental outreach survey.  

Booking a Live Workshop 

To ensure all students attend a live workshop, we would ask that you book one or more time slots using our Calendly page. You will also have access to a departmental guide, where we explain in detail the role of departments in the process and offer support on how to communicate with students, as well as promotional materials that you can distribute in your department, such as posters.  

We allow up to 40 participants per workshop slot, so please indicate as many time slots as necessary. Each workshop is 1 hour 30 minutes long and can be delivered either in-person (recommended) or online. 

Click here to read the Terms and Conditions at the bottom of the FAQ page before booking a workshop.  

Finally, if your department is interested in commissioning bespoke workshops from us by theme / subject such as gender-based violence, harassment, clinical settings etc., please get in touch to find out more about what we can offer.  

Once again, thank you for supporting us. We are dedicated to ensuring that this important programme of work continues. Together, we can ensure that UCL is a safer, more inclusive campus, where students feel empowered to be active bystanders.