Blogs, news & views

How educational institutions can take a more strategic, enterprise-wide approach to risk management without losing sight of empathy or student wellbeing.

Culture Shift were proud to host the launch of this vital new book, Addressing Student Sexual Violence in Higher Education: A Good Practice Guide, with its authors Clarissa J. Humphreys (@clarissajdh) and Graham J. Towl (@ProfGrahamTowl).

Why pastoral support is foundational to retention, engagement and student wellbeing — and how to revitalise it across further and higher education.

A podcast on the tangible action education providers can take when anonymous reports flag patterns, including a partner’s environmental investigations approach.

How technology — from virtual learning environments to collaboration tools — is reshaping teaching, support and academic standards across UK education.

How automation can free up time for educators and improve student support, without huge budgets or disruption to existing systems.

How to take inclusion conversations out of boardrooms and into every level of the business, including how to engage colleagues who don’t see the issue.

Why senior leaders sometimes don’t prioritise diversity and inclusion, and how to build a business case strong enough to win sustained, top-down support.

Five reasons building your own anonymous reporting platform is rarely the right call — covering cost, security, usability, analytics and long-term support.

Why the OfS Statement of Expectations is welcome but not enough on its own — and our recommendations for universities serious about long-term cultural change.

How workplace bullying and harassment quietly drag down productivity and profit, what the legal exposure looks like, and where digital solutions can help.

How universities can put student safety at the heart of Freshers Week planning, with practical steps for prevention, reporting and visible support.

In 2020 the University of Salford spoke up about the issues of student wellbeing and mental health. This isn’t a unique challenge for Salford, with 1 in 5 students across the country suffering from mental health issues.

Bath Spa University (BSU) pride themselves on having built a culture of intimacy and personalised learning for all of their students since receiving University status in 2005. Their members are made to feel like part of a community, which can be a great benefit to student and staff experience, however it can also create barriers when tackling issues that require more discretion, such as with reporting harassment or unacceptable behaviour.

How HR leaders can secure ongoing executive buy-in for people investments by treating ROI not as a one-off pitch but as a continuous, evidence-led conversation.

As businesses continue navigating the pandemic and conversations around the future of workplace culture take precedence, we were proud to host this conversation about remote working and the opportunity it gives you to make your workplace radically accessible and inclusive.

The guidance includes recommendations for reporting, investigation and decision-making procedures relating to student complaints of staff sexual misconduct in Higher Education institutions. You can read it here.

How simplifying and humanising student incident reporting helps tackle underreporting and gives institutions a more honest picture of what students experience.

How employers can build the speak-up culture, processes and support needed to tackle workplace sexual harassment effectively, and stay on the right side of the law.

Diversity is not just important for society, it is important for a successful, sustainable business and the worldwide economy. And, it’s important for people’s happiness at work.

Practical steps organisations should be taking to tackle racial inequity at work, from clear public commitments to deeper, longer-term structural change.

Why insurance firms can no longer treat diversity and inclusion as optional, with new research on what employees expect and where the sector falls short.

Six HR technology trends, from AI and automation to anonymous reporting, that are reshaping how organisations recruit, retain and support their people.

Five of the biggest challenges HR will face over the next decade, from retaining top talent to embedding wellbeing as a genuine business strategy.