Page 34 - the SyI Quarterly 10
P. 34
Institute Community
Security Community
Universities must work through the Code of Practice and ensure that they meet, at least, the
minimum level required in all areas. This requires partnership working and collaboration between
University of Wales Trinity internal departments (security, wellbeing, international office etc.) and with relevant external groups
(police, NHS, charities, local council etc.). Applications are assessed by a peer review panel of sector
experts, and followed up by a verification visit by student assessors and trained ProtectED assessors.
ProtectED accreditation is awarded to institutions that meet the high standard set by the Code
of Practice. High standards must be sustained, as accredited universities need to re-submit for
David joins ProtectED initiative assessment every three years.
ProtectED currently has seven Founder Member Universities, Coventry University, University of Central
Lancashire, Brunel University London, Teesside University, University College London, University of
Salford, and our latest Founder Member, University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD).
UWTSD’s Royal Charter is the oldest of any university in Wales and England , after the universities
of Oxford and Cambridge and the university will celebrate the bicentenary of its foundation in 2022.
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) was UWTSD is the first university in Wales to join ProtectED and brings the student experience of over
announced as the latest university to become a Founder 12,000 learners across its campuses within the scope of the ProtectED Code of Practice.
Member of ProtectED — the award-winning national
initiative raising standards in student safety, security and As a University renowned for the quality of its student support, ProtectED membership is a good fit for
wellbeing in the higher education sector. UWTSD. The University scores highly in university rankings for student satisfaction which makes it an
ideal addition to the ProtectED Founder Member cohort.
UWTSD becomes the first university in Wales to become a
ProtectED Founder Member institution, and the seventh Professor Medwin Hughes, DL, University of Wales Trinity Saint David Vice-Chancellor, said: “The
across the UK. ProtectED Founder Member is a title safety, security and wellbeing of our students is paramount. We aim to provide a safe and inclusive
conferred on the first twelve ‘early adopter’ universities environment in which our students can thrive – both in their professional and personal lives. I’m
joining ProtectED. Founder Member institutions will help delighted that the University has become a Founding Member of ProtectED and has been recognised
steer the development and roll-out of ProtectED over the by this ‘gold standard’ accreditation scheme”.
coming years.
University of Wales Trinity Saint David will be formally welcomed into ProtectED at an Evening
ProtectED is the ‘gold standard’ for assessing the work Reception at the House of Lords later this year, hosted by Baroness Ruth Henig, ProtectED patron and
done by universities to look after their students’ safety, Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.
security and well-being. It is the first UK higher education
accreditation scheme to look comprehensively across Baroness Henig said: “The ProtectED Code of Practice offers, for the first time, a comprehensive
this broad area. The need for ProtectED is rooted in the student safety, security and wellbeing standard for universities to aspire to, and a practical, robust
recognition that universities have a wider role to play in method of assessing and raising standards across the sector.”
supporting the safety and wellbeing of their students—
not only while they are on campus, but throughout their
student experience.
ProtectED accreditation is designed to ensure universities
provide the services and structures that enable students
to avoid problems and focus on their success. The scheme
was developed over three years by academics and security
experts at Salford University and K7 Compliance, in
response to pressing student safety and wellbeing issues.
The ProtectED Code of Practice comprises five areas.
Central to ProtectED is the evaluation of university
security services—referred to as ‘Core safety and security’.
ProtectED also addresses specific areas of student safety
and wellbeing, through a number of focused instruments,
these include: (i1) Student wellbeing & mental health;
and (i2) International students; (i3) Harassment & sexual
assault; and (i4) Student night out. The combination of
Core Safety and Security and four focused instruments
enables ProtectED to holistically address safety, security
and wellbeing across the wider student experience.
34