The University of Liverpool has made consent and active bystander training mandatory for all students as part of efforts to promote healthy relationships on campus.
The university operates a zero-tolerance approach to harassment and sexual misconduct. Unwanted attention, coercion, and any form of sexual misconduct are not tolerated within the university community.
What the training covers
Students must complete the Consent and Active Bystander Training Module either during induction or as part of their return to campus registration tasks. The module teaches the importance of clear and voluntary agreement before any physical or intimate interaction, and provides knowledge and skills to safely intervene if students feel comfortable doing so when they witness inappropriate behaviour.
The training is available through faculty-specific links for Health and Life Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Engineering.
The university acknowledges that some content within the training modules may be distressing or triggering for some students. Confidential support is available from the central Wellbeing Team for those who need it.
Support and reporting
Students who have experienced harassment, sexual misconduct, bullying, hate crime, assault, discrimination, or behaviour that makes them feel unsafe can access confidential help and advice from Student Services. Support is available whether an incident happened in the past or is ongoing.
Reports can be made through the Advice and Guidance team in Student Services or via the university's Report + Support tool, which offers the option to report anonymously or with contact details included. The university states that anyone reporting an incident will be treated with care, fairness, and respect.
Staff-student relationships
The University of Liverpool strongly discourages romantic or sexual relationships between staff and students for student protection. The university notes that such relationships can create problems related to power imbalances and perceptions of preferential treatment that may affect friendships and other university relationships. Staff members are obliged to notify the university if they enter into a relationship with a student.
Further information about the university's approach to harassment, sexual misconduct, bullying, hate crime, assault, discrimination, and behaviour that makes students feel unsafe is available on the Safe and Welcoming Campus webpages.