Universities and colleges will need to hold a register of personal relationships between staff and students, and fire any employees who keep the relationship a secret, under plans announced by the higher education regulator today.
The Office for Students is also proposing a ban on the use of non-disclosure agreements in cases of harassment and sexual misconduct, including prohibiting any enforcement of existing non-disclosure agreements.
Both actions form part of a consultation on regulating harassment and sexual misconduct in higher education, including mandatory training for students and staff, as well as “bystander training” for potential witnesses.
Susan Lapworth, chief executive of the OfS, said the “important proposals” are needed because progress to tackle the issue across the sector has been “too slow and too patchy”.
