Projects & activities

As part of the Social Safety Dialogues project, we regularly organise dialogue sessions on topics related to social safety. You are very welcome to join us. The dialogue sessions take various forms: Story Tell & Talk, Walk & Talk, and Watch & Talk. By taking part, you will contribute to the conversation on social safety. In addition, the University of Groningen will again be offering the Art of Hosting training again in 2026 for those wishing to develop their skills in facilitating dialogues. You can find more information about dates and registration in the calendar.

The Social Safety & Diversity and Inclusion project focuses on strengthening social safety for employees from diverse backgrounds within the UG. Through dialogue tables with, among others, international staff, LGBTQ+ individuals and colleagues with disabilities or neurodiversity, we gain insights on what they need for an inclusive and safe working environment. The input from these conversations will be used to sharpen existing policies, develop new initiatives, and structurally give all groups a voice within the university. We share the activities organised within this project under ‘calendar'.

The Social Safety Students project focuses specifically on increasing social safety in student life, both inside and outside the university. Through training, education, codes of conduct and dialogue tables, the project works with students to raise awareness and to prevent and discuss transgressive behaviour. The aim is to contribute to a socially safe learning environment as well as the development of a new generation of professionals who will themselves contribute to safe working environments in the future. The code of conduct for students stems from this project. Other activities covered by this project are: Active Bystander lectures, training/informing confidential contact persons of study and student associations, various lectures, and making the support structure visible, e.g. through posters and information at introductory meetings.

The Shared Ways of Working project focuses on developing a university-wide code of shared values that promotes social safety within the working environment of the UG. Through focus groups with employees from different faculties and services, input is being collected on the applicability and needs around such a code of conduct. The aim is to capture what is needed to enable desired behaviour, stimulate conversation about social safety, and contribute to an inclusive and respectful work culture.

The Central Contact and Information Point for Social Safety will guide you if you have witnessed or experienced undesirable behaviour at your place of work or study within the UG. You can contact them for assistance and/or to report an incident (anonymously, if you wish). All requests for help, reports and notifications received by the central reporting and information point are recorded so that we can identify patterns and trends and take appropriate action. In this way, you contribute to a safe and inclusive study and working environment, for yourself and for others.

The Local Confidential Advisors (LCA) Network project aims to establish a professional network of local confidential advisors across the faculties and services of the University of Groningen. These colleagues act as an accessible first point of contact for anyone who witnesses or experiences inappropriate behaviour. In the role of a support partner, they offer a confidential listening ear. A number of faculties are already working with this role. However, the way in which the role is defined and structured still varies. To promote greater uniformity and expertise, the Local Confidential Advisors Network project was launched as part of the Social Safety programme this year. The Network organises peer review sessions and themed meetings together with the Central Office for Confidential Advisors.

You can access the FAQs about the Network of Local Confidential Advisors here.