Call to support HEI collaboration to develop guidelines or standards for investigations of breaches of institutional sexual violence and harassment policy

The Higher Education Authority is seeking to support higher education institutions to collaborate on the sectoral development of guidelines or standards for investigation of breaches of institutional sexual violence and harassment (SVH) policy.

The HEA is particularly interested to support a collaborative approach that is informed by the latest promising practice and research, including the findings of the HEA National Surveys of Staff and Student Experiences of Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish HEIs (2022), in addition to lessons emerging from similar initiatives globally.

The HEA Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Higher Education Institutions Implementation Plan was launched in October 2022 in response to analysis of the National Surveys of Staff and Student Experiences of Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish HEIs.

The HEA ESVH Implementation Plan is intended to build on and complement the broad range of initiatives ongoing across the sector towards the outcomes set out in the ESVH Framework (Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive: Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions) and accompanying institutional action plans.

This call is intended to support HEIs to build capacity in line with the findings of Action 10 and Action 11 of the ESVH Implementation Plan and Framework Outcome 15.

The call for applications launched on the 29^th of September 2025. The deadline for applications is 12:00 (noon) on the 10^th of November 2025.

Further information can be found in the Call for Applications. Applications must be made using the Application Template and must be submitted to EDI@hea.ie by 12:00 (noon) on the 10^th of November 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.

Eligible higher education institutions under this initiative are those listed in Appendix 1 of the Call for Applications.