The University of Strathclyde has been awarded the EmilyTest GBV Charter in recognition of its work to tackle gender-based violence (GBV) on campus.

The EmilyTest was created by Fiona Drouet after her daughter, Emily, took her own life in 2016 following a campaign of abuse and violence by a fellow student.

Having identified missed opportunities for Emily’s university to spot signs of her abuse and intervene to potentially save her life, Fiona created the EmilyTest charity and the world’s first gender-based violence charter for colleges and universities.

The Charter is made up of five principles with over 40 minimum standards which institutions must meet in order to pass the EmilyTest – these include having a GBV policy, a GBV reporting tool and a clearly defined duty of care.

The Charter provides a ‘toolbox’ alongside guided coaching for Universities and Colleges to effectively prevent, intervene and respond to GBV in line with best practice, while cementing an ‘outwards’ celebration of progress.

EmilyTest supports institutions through one-to-one coaching, providing dedicated staff support, resources and opportunities to share good practice with the sector to enable them to implement this framework.

Institutions gain the Charter by presenting evidence of their work to an independent panel of experts.

Essential role

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of Strathclyde, said: “As a socially progressive University, we believe the higher education sector has an essential role to play in helping to tackle gender-based violence wherever it may occur, through awareness raising, teaching and research, and by ensuring our campuses are safe.  This is exemplified in our Safe360° initiative and our Strathclyde Community Commitment.

“No one should have to endure GBV – something which affects girls and women in particular – and we are determined to play our part in driving the change that is needed in society more generally, and by making our campus as safe as possible.

The award of the EmilyTest Charter is a powerful signal to the Strathclyde community about how seriously the University takes tackling GBV, promoting Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, and how we expect our students and staff to behave.

Eva Curran, President of Strath Union, said: “As President and former Women’s Rep, I am incredibly proud of our achievement in securing the EmilyTest Charter. This is the result of tireless efforts from both the Union and University, and I want to thank everyone whose unwavering dedication made this possible.

“I hope students see this as a clear reflection of our commitment to ensuring women feel safe on our campus. This milestone represents our ongoing fight against gender-based violence and our dedication to building a supportive and respectful environment for all students. The EmilyTest Charter not only highlights the progress we've made but also serves as a pledge to continue this crucial work, with safety and equality at the heart of our community. It's a proud day to be a Strathclyder!"

Unwavering dedication

Fiona Drouet, Founder and CEO of Emily Test, said: “I am absolutely delighted to see the University of Strathclyde awarded the EmilyTest Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Charter.

“Strathclyde and EmilyTest have a long-standing and valued partnership which dates back to the development of the Equally Safe in Higher Education (ESHE) toolkit. The university has shown unwavering dedication to tackling GBV on campus and in wider society.

“As a pilot institution for the GBV Charter, Strathclyde has demonstrated a strong commitment to driving much-needed change, not only within their university but across the higher education sector as a whole.

Achieving the Charter is no small feat, and Strathclyde’s thorough submission of their work in GBV prevention, intervention, and support to our independent panel reflects their commitment to external assessment and confidence in their efforts.

“The admirable and supportive leadership of Sir Jim McDonald has been key in maintaining a strong focus on this vital work, ensuring it remains a priority for the institution. I'd like to personally thank and congratulate him, his senior leadership team, and all staff and students involved in implementing the Charter. 

“We very much look forward to continuing our work together in ensuring all students are able to live, work and study free from the harms and threat of GBV.”

Equally Safe

Strathclyde is committed to delivering the vision of Equally Safe: Scotland's strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls.

The University has a wide range of initiatives in place to tackle GBV, including its Safe360° safeguarding policy, on-campus support from Rape Crisis Scotland, and compulsory training modules on GBV, consent and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion that students must complete in order to undertake their studies.

Feedback from students has been hugely positive, and for the GBV and Consent course, 86% of students agreed that they had learned more about Strathclyde and the environment the University wishes to foster.

All of the activity is overseen and coordinated by the Equally Safe at Strathclyde Group and the Student Experience Directorate.