eLearning Lifeline for Student Victims of Homophobic Bullying
An innovative new elearning programme is helping students who are victims of homophobic bullying to deal with its effects.
The 'Homophobic Bullying' elearning initiative from The National Union of Students (NUS) is sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and was developed by Academee. Aimed at students in the further and higher education sectors, it can be accessed free of charge via the NUS.
The colourful, interactive elearning programme enables users to understand what forms homophobic bullying can take and the effects it can have. It offers advice and provides sources of further help. It also helps victims ensure they choose future employers who value diversity and inclusion.
The programme is part of the NUS 'Bullying Sucks' initiative. Research from the NUS Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) campaign has highlighted the consequences of homophobic bullying on individual students' physical, mental and social wellbeing. Evidence suggests that this type of bullying is endemic.
Most anti-bullying initiatives are focused on schools, but the research has highlighted the problem of bullying in further and higher education. Of over 1500 respondents, 63 per cent said they had experienced bullying at their FE or HE institution.
NUS National LGBT Officer, Scott Cuthbertson, commented: “We're calling for all colleges and universities to take bullying seriously by implementing inclusive anti-bullying policies and procedures which are accessible, well publicised and easy to use.”
John Last, RBS Head of Diversity added: “By providing a widely accessible online tool to help students recognise and deal with bullying, RBS hopes to make a real practical difference to students who come up against bullying.”
Academee is a preferred supplier of elearning to RBS and the two organisations have worked successfully together for over four years. Academee's diversity team developed the content of the site free of charge, and Academee's award winning elearning development team created a highly engaging, interactive elearning interface.
Alison Tickner, Academee's director of diversity, added; “Evidence suggests that this type of bullying is endemic and has a negative impact on individual students' physical, mental and social wellbeing. At Academee, we have helped a wide range of organisations realise the benefits of creating cultures of diversity and inclusion. We are delighted to be involved in this groundbreaking initiative.”
It is significant that this initiative is launching now, as 2007 is The European Year of Equal Opportunities for All. Its aim is to make people in the European Union more aware of their rights to enjoy equal treatment and a life free of discrimination - two of the basic principles underpinning the Union. It is hoped that the Year will also launch a major debate on the benefits of diversity.
Academee has worked with NUS and RBS to create an innovative new elearning programme which offers advice and provides sources of help to students who are victims of homophobic bullying.
