Discrimination, harassment or negative influence on the educational environment through violations

Both students and employees will be treated in a correct and respectful way. All students and employees of the University of Borås should be aware of the laws that demand preventive and active measures against discrimination. Prevention is fundamental, so that discrimination and harassment does not occur. This is best achieved by working actively with work environment within the university and its organisational parts.

The University of Borås recommends that cases, whenever possible, be investigated and handled in the place where the wrong has been committed. The main goal is for the offensive behaviour to stop as soon as possible.

As an educational organiser and employer, the university is responsible for a good study and work environment.

Investigative obligation

Note that if the university has become aware that a student at the university may be/has been harassed, the university has a duty to investigate the circumstances of the event and, in some cases, take any measures that could reasonably be needed to prevent harassment in the future.

Prohibition against retaliation

The university is also responsible for making sure that the person who reports an event is not at risk of retaliation because of the report.

Investigation

The university’s investigation of suspected harassment is based on the rules in the Discrimination Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.

Advice if you experience harassment, violations or any other unwelcome behaviour

According to the Discrimination Act, a behaviour must be unwelcome to be considered harassment. That is why it is important for you to speak up and show that the behaviour is unwelcome. If you do not want to speak to the person you feel is harassing you or behaves in an unwelcome way, you may write them a letter or an e-mail. You may also ask someone you trust to tell the person that you feel that they are harassing you.

If circumstances show that it is clear that the person know that they are harassing or violating you, you do not need to speak up or in other ways show that the behaviour is unwelcome. If you are not sure if the behaviour is offensive, you should clearly let them know in some way that their behaviour is unwelcome.

Write down every event 

Note the time and place, what happened, what was said and how you reacted. This could be important documentation in a possible investigation. Also save any letters, e-mails, text messages and other communication with the person whom you feel have treated you in an unwelcome way.

Tell someone

Tell an employee, student representative or the student health service, or someone else you trust. 

It is important that a dialogue begins as soon as possible and that conversations are held with the person who has been exposed to violations and the person who is accused. Both the person who feel violated and the person who is accused will be given opportunity to talk about the events, and both persons will be respected. 

Report

If you feel that you have been discriminated, harassed or if you believe that your educational environment has been negatively affected and wish to move forward with the case, you have two options:

Option 1

Contact the director of studies, the course administrator, department head or the university’s student representative.

Note that if the university has become aware that a student may be/has been harassed, the university has a duty to investigate the circumstances of the event and, in some cases, take the measures that could reasonably be needed to prevent harassment in the future.

Records of an investigation are public and may be disclosed to anyone who wishes to see them, unless a rule in the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act prohibits this.

Option 2

You can always make an official report to the university. A report can be made by e-mailing the university or by posting a regular letter to the university.

Address information

registrator@hb.se
Högskolan i Borås
501 90 BORÅS

You can also use the report form available on the website Report/complaint against the university.

Note that if the university becomes aware of an event that could be harassment, the university must investigate the event. Regardless of how the case is handled, the main goal is for the unwelcome behaviour to stop!

Records of an investigation are public and may be disclosed to anyone who wishes to see them, unless a rule in the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act prohibits this.

Guidance and support

The following functions within the university are examples of staff members you can turn to for guidance in how to act. You may of course turn to other staff members if you feel it is more appropriate.

• Course administrator
• Programme administrator
• Department head
• Faculty Dean
• Student representative
• Counsellor
• Nurse
• University legal officer
• Students’ union

Guidance and support if you have been reported

The person who has been reported also has the right to guidance and support by the staff members above.