Equal Treatment – Overview of the Discussion with the Rectorate at the Student Parliament Meeting on March 20

At the beginning of the spring semester, the Student Parliament discussed developments and challenges related to equal treatment at the University of Tartu. Following the discussion, we presented our views and expectations to the Rectorate and invited them to our March Student Parliament meeting to engage in a joint discussion on the topic. We were pleased that the Rectorate accepted our invitation, and a significant number of its members participated in the Student Parliament meeting held on March 20, where we were able to engage in an open and in-depth discussion together. Below is a summary of the key points.

The meeting began with a brief overview by UTSU Chairman Renar Kihho. Renar explained how UTSU has received feedback from students expressing uncertainty about the future, as no concrete actions have been taken in the area of equal treatment and/or these actions have not been adequately communicated both within and outside the university. Next, the Rectorate provided an overview of the steps taken and planned:

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• The Centre for Staff Development highlighted that equal treatment has long been a focus, and over time efforts have been made to foster an organisational culture that supports and values equal treatment. As examples, they mentioned recent conferences held on psychological safety, equal treatment, and workplace well-being.
• The Centre for Staff Development also noted that training is provided at the university to raise awareness, including training on psychological safety and for heads of structural units. Looking ahead, the university aims to train a group of people capable of working with restorative justice methodology. The opportunity for students to seek help from the university psychologist or counselling centre was also emphasised. Heads of structural units have the possibility to receive support from a personal coach.
• Equal treatment has also been kept in mind in the preparation of the university’s development plan for the next period, where one of the three main strategic directions is improving the work and study environment.

Following the overview of the university's activities, a discussion ensued where various aspects were examined more closely, and joint efforts were made to find solutions to the challenges. Student Parliament members raised the following points:

• Although providing training for staff is a commendable initiative, mechanisms could be considered whereby the committee or individual handling an equal treatment case may require the involved staff member to attend training. This would have a greater impact than the current approach. In addition to the current staff-oriented training, more training opportunities for students were suggested in order to raise awareness.
• It was also expressed that the university should communicate its current efforts more effectively, as this would help ensure that students feel secure and confident that the issue is being addressed and not ignored. One specific recommendation was to provide new students with comprehensive information on equal treatment during their first semester (e.g. when and whom to contact if needed).
• The need to involve external resources in handling cases and developing the topic was also raised (due to aspects of time, expertise, and impartiality). An external perspective could help ease the current system, where dealing with the issue is often an additional task for university staff who already work full-time and may not have the allocated resources. The current system is easily overwhelmed, and much of the responsibility and navigation of the system falls on the victim.
• It was also noted that the current guidelines suggest the victim should first speak with the person responsible for the inappropriate behaviour, but this approach does not encourage reporting of incidents or foster a sense of safety for the victim.
• Finally, the Student Parliament members pointed out that students have been facing these challenges for at least a decade – there is an expectation and desire to see faster change and results.

The discussion was thorough and lengthy. In conclusion, the Student Parliament members and the Rectorate reached agreement on several matters, although some questions remain that require further consideration. However, both parties demonstrated a willingness to collaboratively advance the university. According to the Rectorate, the next steps at the University of Tartu include conducting a study to better map the topic of equal treatment and to encourage members of the university community to draw more attention to the issue. The Rectorate also expressed a desire to involve external resources, focus more on preventative measures, and develop the existing guidelines and systems.