Transgressive behaviour
Artevelde UAS strives for a stimulating and safe learning and working environment, where everyone can develop and where transgressive behaviour is not tolerated. We aim to prevent such behaviour, but if it does occur, we are committed to handling it professionally and appropriately.
We expect students, staff members, and everyone who supports the learning process to behave respectfully and to respect other people's boundaries – in and outside of the UAS. This also applies during activities such as internships, study trips, and activities organised by student associations. Our code of conduct for the prevention of transgressive behaviour provides a clear framework on how to treat others respectfully and professionally.
What is transgressive behaviour?
Transgressive behaviour is behaviour that violates personal or general standards, crosses other people's boundaries, and causes harm or is likely to do so. It may concern verbal or physical aggression, bullying, unwanted sexual behaviour, or discrimination, for instance based on race, age, or gender. Abuse of power is also a form of transgressive behaviour.
What is bullying?
We define bullying as:
- Several similar or diverse behaviours
- In or outside of Artevelde University of Applied Sciences
- That occur repeatedly and during a specific period
That have the intention or result that
- The personality, the dignity, or the physical or psychological integrity of a student or staff member is harmed
- Or that a threatening, hostile, insulting, humiliating or harmful environment is created.
Bullying can be:
- Verbal bullying: gossiping, making offensive remarks, laughing at someone …
- Non-verbal bullying: ignoring or excluding an individual or group, withholding information from someone …
- Material bullying: hiding or damaging items …
What is unwanted sexual behaviour?
Unwanted sexual behaviour is:
- Any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal, or physical behaviour with a sexual connotation
- That has the intention or result that
- A person's dignity is affected
- Or that a threatening, hostile, insulting, humiliating or harmful environment is created.
Examples are:
- Verbal unwanted sexual behaviour: sexual jokes, a compromising proposal, messages of a sexual nature ...
- Non-verbal unwanted sexual behaviour: obscene gestures, staring at someone with sexual intentions ...
- Physical unwanted sexual behaviour: unwanted touching …
What is violence?
Violence is every occurrence where a student or staff member is physically or psychologically threatened or attacked within a professional situation or educational context in higher education.
It may concern
- verbal violence: swearing, cursing, yelling …
- physical violence: hitting, kicking, pushing …
- threats: obstructing access, threatening language …
What is abuse of power?
In the event of abuse of power, someone makes use of their position and powers in an intimidating, manipulative or violent manner at the expense of the one(s) they are having a confidential and/or authority relationship with.
What is discrimination?
Discrimination comprises all statements, actions or decisions that are insulting because of:
- nationality
- an alleged race
- skin colour
- ancestry or national or ethnic origin
- age
- sexual orientation
- religious or philosophic belief
- a disability
- gender and related criteria such as pregnancy, giving birth, and motherhood, or gender reassignment
- gender identity and gender expression
- marital status
- birth
- wealth
- political conviction
- language
- current or future state of health
- a physical or genetic trait
- social background
- trade union-related ideas
What can you do if you encounter transgressive behaviour?
If someone crosses your boundaries, you can say this by naming the behaviour you experience as transgressive. It may be difficult to react appropriately, for instance because you are startled by the behaviour or because you don't know how to react appropriately. The UAS provides training on how to deal with transgressive or aggressive behaviour. If you witness transgressive behaviour, you can help as well. In a bystander training, you will get pointers on how to react appropriately should you witness transgressive behaviour.
You can also report transgressive behaviour to the Internal Hotline for Transgressive Behaviour, where you can get help and support.
Internal hotline for transgressive behaviour
If you experience transgressive behaviour, you can turn to the confidential advisor from the Internal Hotline for Transgressive Behaviour. The confidential advisor will give you advice and support in a confidential talk.
Also if you witness transgressive behaviour or if you think you have crossed someone else's boundaries, you can turn to the confidential advisor for a talk or advice. All talks are subject to professional confidentiality, and as such are confidential.
What happens after a complaint of transgressive behaviour
Talk
Your complaint of transgressive behaviour will only go to the confidential advisor, to guarantee confidentiality. After the complaint, the confidential advisor will contact you to make an appointment for a talk, and this within ten calendar days. This talk can take place at one of the UAS campuses or online via Teams.
Possible steps
During this talk, you will be listened to, you will get advice and support, and you will discuss what further steps you want to take. You may choose to just report the transgressive behaviour. The confidential advisor can also discuss the problem with another person, whether or not anonymous, for instance with the head of the department or another superior.
The confidential advisor can talk to the person who is the subject of the transgressive behaviour complaint, or they can mediate between you and this person. You can also be transferred for appropriate support or guidance.
Disciplinary body
The disciplinary body can be informed by the confidential advisor in case of a situation that holds an acute risk for students or staff members, or if there are several reports about the same person. The information that is passed on to the disciplinary body may be anonymous. So it is not necessary to pass on your name. The disciplinary body can take disciplinary measures and/or sanctions against the person involved.
Central register
All complaints, both of students and staff, are entered in a Central Register. This register exists to establish and deal with recidivism. If you want, registration in the record can occur anonymously. In that record, a dated description of the facts is included, as well as the name of the person whom the report concerns.
And then?
Depending on the steps that were taken, further talks can be held, the disciplinary body can investigate the facts, or you can get appropriate support. If further steps are taken, you will be informed about the progress. So, a report on transgressive behaviour is tailor-made, and you are in charge, supported by experts.
If there are several reports of transgressive behaviour, the confidential advisor can decide to take action so that the situation is addressed. If you made a report earlier, you will be kept up to date of the progress.
Prevention of transgressive behaviour
The UAS takes a lot of effort to prevent transgressive behaviour. For staff members, various training sessions are available on collaborative communication, giving and receiving feedback, and dealing with stress, among others. The bystander training is also available, as well as training sessions on dealing with transgressive and aggressive behaviour. For students, the focus is on a caring community, and gatekeeper trainings are provided.
Contact the confidential advisor
If you want to report transgressive behaviour, or if you have further questions, then you can contact the confidential advisor, Griet Pennewaert, at griet.pennewaert@arteveldehs.be or via Teams.
Where else can you turn to?
You can also choose not to report transgressive behaviour internally, but to report it externally to the hotline Vlaams Meldpunt Grensoverschrijdend Gedrag. You can find more information on the operation of the hotline and contact options on their website.
Additionally, you can also turn to
- Care centres after sexual violence: you can come here if you need medical and psychological care, for gathering physical evidence, to file a complaint, and for follow up on sexual violence.
- Tele-onthaal offers a helpful talk to everyone who needs it, by telephone (tel. 106) or chat.
- 1712 is a helpline for questions on violence, abuse, and child abuse: by telephone (tel. 1712) or chat.
- CAW (Centrum Algemeen Welzijnswerk) Victim Support service provides support in dealing with shocking events
- Police: you can file a complaint with the police if you are a victim of criminal offences