Consent, Sexual Violence and Harassment: Practitioner Skills & Practice

Module Code: PS6158

Micro-credential Overview

This Micro-credential has a specific brief to support individuals involved in implementing programmes and initiatives related to consent, sexual violence and harassment. In particular, we draw on examples related to the Consent Framework (‘Safe, Respectful, Supportive & Positive: Ending Sexual Violence & Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions’) promoted by the Department of Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science, work with post-primary schools, and other community settings.

The Micro-credential supports practitioners, researchers, and advocates with an interest in these areas to further develop their approach to consent, sexual violence and harassment – by reflecting on and addressing organisational culture, critically thinking about institutional structures and processes, and via targeted initiatives.

Many of the strategies and skills called for by policies such as the Consent Framework are innovative, bringing an associated need for support for professional development. We are therefore learning together, and people working in the area will be well served by developing a ‘learning community’ that can mutually support a ‘best practice’ model.

While the content will specifically target the higher education and post-primary sectors, we welcome participants who are working in areas such as youth work, community organisations, the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, etc.

Sexual consent, sexual violence and harassment (SVH) are critical issues in educational settings. This module equips participants to design and support student engagement and organisational development, through coverage of areas such as:

Critical understanding of consent and SVH.
Designing, implementing, supporting and evaluating consent and SVH programmes.
Skills for training, workshop facilitation, collaboration and group work.
Policy, guidelines, and frameworks.
Principles of organisational culture change.

Communication/interpersonal skills.
Interpersonal skills to support receiving a disclosure.

The Micro-credential will support participants to achieve or extend relevant knowledge & skills and provide an opportunity to share and discuss their learning. It is envisaged that participants will have a range of experiences and backgrounds – for instance, in student services, college administration, counselling and wellbeing, academic programme management and research, and agencies/organisations relevant to education and research. The module team will provide a clear structure and framework for your learning, encourage you to identify the specific areas you wish to focus on and support these paths, working together with all module participants as respected partners to promote a learning community to share knowledge and problem-solving capacity.

The Micro-credential covers three main topic areas:

Designing, supporting, and evaluating education and development programmes on consent, sexual violence and harassment for students and staff.
Supporting organisational change through staff development, training in receiving disclosures, and acting as a resource for organisational culture and climate change.
Developing policies and best practice to underpin institutional and procedural change.

The Micro-credential is led by the Active* Consent programme. Delivery is a partnership between Active* Consent, Galway Rape Crisis Centre and other partner organisations and experts, drawing on the expertise and experience of each partner to deliver a unique learning experience. The Active* Consent team will coordinate the Micro-credential and participants will be registered as postgraduate students with University of Galway for a 10 ECTS module.

Find out more: MicroCred - Consent, Sexual Violence and Harassment.

Start Date

Academic Year 2024/25, Semester 1 & 2

Mode of Study and Assessment

The module will be delivered online via zoom for all classes, with one in-person session. This will involve online seminars and workshops.

Direct class interaction will be complemented by the use of the Blackboard virtual learning environment, supported through engaging eLearning content delivery strategies such as recorded interviews, and pre-recorded content, videos, workshops, guest speakers, and guided activities.

You will complete a self-assessment the start of the module, reflecting on your existing experience in order to have a personalised learning plan for the module. The learning plan will help direct your engagement in the module – i.e., to link the module resources as clearly as possible to your goals in taking part in the module, to avoid duplication with existing learning, and identify your priority areas (e.g., targeted initiatives, design of policy/procedure, culture change, and organisational development). This reflects the adult learner model for the module, in which participants are engaged in relevant actions through their existing workplace duties, which they will use to apply and reflect on their learning.

Assessment
As an accredited module, there will be formal assessment required to successfully complete the module. Given the applied nature of the module focus, assessment will be 100% Continuous Assessment. Insofar as possible, assessment will be designed with professional development in mind, to give you the maximum opportunity to use the assessment methodology to support critical reflection, knowledge and skills relevant to working with young people, staff, and organisational systems. Assessments will be practical and intended to enhance your practical planning toward goals relevant to consent, sexual violence, and harassment.

NFQ and ECTs

Level 9

10 ECTs

Application Process

Please fill in the online application form here. If you have any queries, please email: eva.obyrne@universityofgalway.ie

Course Fees

€500*

Subsided fee: €250

*Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria may qualify for a 50% fee subsidy, subject to the availability of subsidised places. For eligibility details, please refer to the Eligibility Criteria on the Micro-credentials webpage.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must be over 21 years of age.
A Level 8 undergraduate, or Level 7 qualification with 3 years experience is required.
Applications can be considered using Recognition of Prior Learning.
Applicants must currently be engaged in a relevant setting where there is an opportunity to engage in the review and planning of initiatives relevant to the ‘Consent Framework’ or similar initiatives on consent/SVH.

As part of the application process for this Micro-credential, learners will be required to provide and upload a short personal statement detailing why they want to take the course (500 words max).

Contact Information

If you have any queries please email: microcreds@universityofgalway.ie or eva.obyrne@universityofgalway.ie

Siobhán Nolan | Past Student

I enrolled on this course after participation in training with Active* Consent and the GRCC which gave me the curiosity to complete the Consent, Sexual Violence and Harassment: Practitioner Skills & Practice micro-credential. Since completing this micro-credential, I have the knowledge and skills to appropriately deal with a disclosure of sexual violence and am more aware of the causes and effects of sexual violence. As a teacher, I can be critical of programme delivery but from the beginning, the course was taught in a very professional, empathetic and sensitive manner. The lecturers were understanding of the diverse needs of all participants and were at all times engaging and enthusiastic. My fellow peers, of varying backgrounds, found support in each other through the sensitive topics and found laughter and joy in equal measure. This course offered the opportunity to explore and debate topics in a safe space. The skills that I have been taught are transcending into my life and work, I am more aware of my and others unconscious bias. I am confident in the theoretical knowledge to inform best practice on this topic.

Consent, Sexual Violence and Harassment: Practitioner Skills & Practice | Past Student

Excellent course - would highly recommend.

Consent, Sexual Violence and Harassment: Practitioner Skills & Practice | Past Student

Really enjoyed the course. Delivery was interactive and engaging, very informative and relevant content. I have recommended the course to colleagues

Consent, Sexual Violence and Harassment: Practitioner Skills & Practice | Past Student

This is a very important, well thought out course that gives you practical skills you can use to support anyone who is suffering due to sexual violence and harassment.