TO BE PUBLISHED October 2026
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This conference will examine next steps for tackling sexual harassment and misconduct in higher education, assessing key issues for implementation and progress so far of Condition E6 - which requires universities registered with the Office for Students to bolster protections for students.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss how arrangements are working following the implementation of Condition E6 and priorities for effective practice moving forward. Areas for discussion include next steps for forging reporting and support processes that are accessible, effective and trusted by students, development of a single comprehensive source of information required by E6, mandatory training for staff and students, and priorities for student safety, case management and investigation.
As providers continue to implement new requirements, the agenda will examine questions of consistency, proportionality and capacity alongside the revied Office of the Independent Adjudicator guidance on handling reports of harassment and sexual misconduct. Attendees will consider implications of E6 for institutional governance, accountability, assurance and expectations for compliance and oversight, as well as implementation of new restrictions on use of non-disclosure agreements.
Delegates will also assess the way forward for preventative measures and the role of partnership working across universities, accommodation providers, local authorities, police forces and specialist support organisations. This also includes the wider policy landscape affecting approaches to sexual harassment and misconduct, alignment with student wellbeing and safeguarding priorities, and developments in online safety and violence against women and girls initiatives.
Reporting, investigations & case management
Sessions will explore how reporting routes are operating in practice, looking at options for developing accessible and student-facing reporting systems with effective signposting. Delegates will also consider proportionality and capacity, particularly for smaller and specialist providers, and the relationship between reporting and disciplinary processes, including how appropriate separation can be maintained.
Overall areas for discussion include:
- implementation:
- procedural fairness - credible investigations and timely outcomes within E6 - implications of anticipated revised OIA guidance on handling reports of harassment and sexual misconduct
- evidential standards, panel conduct and questioning - handling historic cases and anonymous reports - practicalities of separating reporting from discipline
- reporting: supporting confidence - strengthening definitions, case handling, and institutional assurance processes - capacity across institutions to meet regulatory expectations
Governance, information & training
The agenda will examine whole-university approaches to leadership, governance and culture - as mandated by E6 - including strategies for supporting delivery of transparent, student-facing hubs with clear definitions of misconduct and harassment.
Attendees will consider:
- governance: leadership and clear lines of accountability - board-level oversight - internal capability to meet E6.7 expectations for sufficient resources to effectively handle misconduct
- monitoring performance: use of complaints data, OIA reporting trends and internal Key Performance Indicators - strategies and support for continuous improvement
- cultural change: clear and trusted information for students - effective practice across institutional policies, services and student-facing processes - consistent application across institutions
- wider student wellbeing: alignment of E6 implementation with student wellbeing, safeguarding and prevention strategies
- training: implementation and evaluation for staff and students - approaches to trauma-informed practice - OfS’s Regulatory Advice 24 framework and E6.8 requirements to protect free speech
- staff-to-student misconduct: best practice, guidelines and stipulations - defining and enforcing professional boundaries - implementing E6 restrictions on NDAs
Campus, accomodation & off-campus safety
Further sessions will assess wider safety measures on and off campus. Delegates will discuss priorities for improving regulation and safety of accommodation, campus security arrangements, as well as strategies for strengthening multi-agency partnerships. Visibility and accessibility of services will also be considered, along with co-ordination of sexual assault referral centres and other survivor support organisations.
Discussion will consider:
- safe environments: co-ordination and the role of HEIs, accommodation providers, local authorities, police and specialist services - multi-agency support, challenges and accountability
- standards across different settings: safety on campus, accommodation and public spaces - potential contribution of safer routes, CCTV, lighting and night-time economy operations
- escalation procedures: priorities for information sharing and safeguarding, particularly where incidents occur beyond university premises
- support networks: strengthening community partnerships - local policing frameworks and VAWG initiatives - alignment of accommodation providers and city partners with Safer Streets priorities
- wider measures:
- implementation of the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023 in England and Wales
- use of Safer Streets funding and local initiatives to improve safety in the night-time economy
Online harms & institutional responses
Online safety and digital harms, including risks related to VAWG, will be considered alongside the ongoing implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023 and its implications for online services used by students. Discussion will assess institutional approaches to prevention, education, reporting, support and casework where harassment or misconduct takes place online, including any responsibilities arising where university-operated services fall within the scope of the Act.
Areas for discussion include:
- key challenges: latest thinking on tackling online abuse, illegal harms, image-based offences and wider digital risks to student safety
- institutional responses: approaches to incidents originating online - reporting, student support and disciplinary responses to digital harms
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
