Universities to double down on transgressive behaviour

Several weeks after various Belgian universities faced allegations of students and staff being harassed, they have made concrete agreements to tighten policies against such behaviour, writes Lauren Walker for The Brussels Times.

In 2018, the Flemish universities and university colleges signed a charter through the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR) that served as a guideline for further elaborating their policy on transgressive behaviour. However, following an evaluation in light of recent incidents, it was decided additional steps are needed.

“Cross-border behaviour of any kind should not be tolerated under any circumstances, including at universities. Students and staff must be able to work in a safe, respectful and inclusive environment,” a statement from VLIR read. Many women who shared testimonies of experiencing transgressive behaviour from staff members across several universities in Ghent, Leuven and Brussels expressed disappointment with the universities’ approach and lack of response to the allegations, as well as lack of clarity regarding how such cases were dealt with.
Full report on The Brussels Times site