IADT unites with Higher Education Sector to Boost Safety on Campuses

Image: Sexual Violence and Harassment Prevention and Response Managers at the launch of the Speak Out National Data Report 2022-2024 in Trinity College Dublin, 4 November 2025.

Speak Out, whose national office is based at Trinity College Dublin, allows people to disclose their experiences anonymously of bullying, harassment, assault, and sexual violence – and avail of signposting to support services. It is one of a range of reporting options available in HEIs.

The data shows that bullying and harassment were the most common abuses reported to Speak Out, an anonymous online reporting tool introduced at 17 HEIs in a bid to enhance safety for students, staff, and visitors [4 November 2025].

Funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), data from Speak Out is being used to inform future responses to abuse and harassment in higher education, and to encourage formal reporting.

The report, based on data from all HEIs that implemented this tool from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2024, should not be read as reflecting the true prevalence of these behaviours.

While 1,011 staff and students made anonymous reports over this period, only 12% of students made a formal complaint to their university or college about the abuse, while only 4% of students made a complaint to An Garda Síochána.

The number of reports made through Speak Out is expected to rise as the service becomes more established. HEIs exist within the wider cultural and societal context, and as such many of the issues reported are reflective of the broader experiences of those living within Ireland.

Key findings from the Speak Out National Data Report 2022-2024:

• 1,011 individuals made anonymous reports through the Speak Out tool. Of these, 636 were students and 303 were staff. 784 reported on their own behalf and 227 on behalf of someone else.
• The most common behaviours experienced were bullying (382 reports) and harassment (340).
• Sexual violence and sexual harassment accounted for 25% of behaviours disclosed by students. Students made 55 reports of rape, 106 reports of sexual assault and 108 reports of sexual harassment.
• Students disclosed significantly higher levels of purely physical abuse (17%) while 4% of staff disclosures involved purely physical abuse.
• 20% of staff and 12% of students made a formal complaint to their HEI about the abuse.
• 4% of students made a formal complaint to An Garda Síochána about the abuse.
• Common reasons for not reporting the incident to the HEI include a fear that nothing would be done or lack of proof that the behaviour took place.
• Common reasons for not reporting to the Gardaí included a sense that the behaviour was not serious enough, or again, that proof was lacking.

Speaking about the launch of the report, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless said: “I commend our universities and colleges, and the Higher Education Authority, for taking meaningful steps to make higher education a safer place for students and staff. By tracking harmful behaviours and abuse in this way, we’re building a clearer picture of the challenges and laying the groundwork for stronger, more informed responses. There must be zero tolerance for abuse on our campuses. What this report highlights is the urgent need to break the culture of silence around these difficult and traumatising experiences, and to ensure students and staff feel safe and supported when they come forward.”

Elaine Mears, Coordinator at the Speak Out National Office, said: “Tackling abuse requires a whole of society response which will take time, commitment, and resourcing. The Higher Education Sector is stepping up to this challenge because we have a responsibility for our students and staff to be leaders in this cultural change. The resourcing of the Speak Out National Office and 16 new posts in HEIs dedicated to preventing and responding to sexual violence demonstrates a commitment from the HEA to working collaboratively to achieve this aim.”

Hwayoung Lee, Administrative Lead for Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment at IADT, said: “IADT is committed to developing a zero-tolerance approach to sexual violence and harassment. We actively uphold this commitment by implementing new policies, providing staff training, and displaying Speak Out digital banners and posters across the campus to encourage use of the tool. We have also introduced online educational modules for first-year students on the key topics of Active Consent, Bystander Intervention, and responding to peer disclosures. We are dedicated to providing responses that are trauma-informed.”

Emma Monahan, Vice-President for Welfare at AMLÉ (Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn), said: “AMLÉ believes that the Speak Out tool provides valuable data that can be used in tackling arange of issues faced by students and staff across our HEIs. AMLÉ will continue to work alongside the Speak Out team in order to raise awareness and engagement with the tool among the student population.”