Saxion wants to be an organisation where everyone matters and can feel this too. Where everyone can be themselves and feel at home. We all play our part in this and are all jointly responsible. As a guideline to help achieve this we have laid down some rules of conduct. For students, these can be found in the Student Charter; for employees, they are set out in the Code of Conduct.
The rules of conduct in the Student Charter and Code of Conduct provide a framework for engaging in dialogue and/or holding each other to account. Sometimes it is obvious which behaviour is (in)appropriate, sometimes not. Below you can read more about the four areas where we can help you. For an overview of the above topics and opportunities for discussing them, we have compiled an infographic.
Do you think you are experiencing (sexual) harassment, physical or verbal aggression, bullying, or discrimination? Then don’t keep this to yourself! If you can, discuss it with the person concerned. We also understand, that sometimes you can’t or don’t want to do that. In that case, you can contact your study coach (for students) or your manager/supervisor (for employees). They know their way around Saxion and will, in consultation, refer you to a confidential intermediary if necessary. If it feels safer for you, you can also contact a confidential intermediary directly, without involving your study coach or manager. Saxion has two internal confidential intermediaries and one external confidential intermediary. The internal confidential intermediaries have a good knowledge of the organisation’s culture and informal structure, which can be helpful in resolving issues. The external confidential intermediary offers more distance from the organisation. You can choose which one you feel more comfortable with.
It is important to know that a confidential intermediary will treat your information as confidential and will only take action with your permission. What can a confidential intermediary do for you? A confidential intermediary will assist you, give you advice, offer a listening ear, provide support, refer you to support agencies and guide you in submitting a complaint to the Inappropriate Behaviour Committee. Read more about the role of a confidential intermediary in the Regulations Concerning Confidential Intermediaries. Just like the confidential intermediary, you can also approach the Inappropriate Behaviour Committee directly as a student or employee, when you want to submit a complaint. You can read everything you need to know about the process of making a complaint in the Complaints Procedure for Inappropriate Behaviour.
If in this process you would like an independent mediator or have serious doubts about how the process will be handled, you can contact the Saxion Ombudsperson.
Saxion endorses, along with all other applied universities and universities in the Netherlands, the Dutch Code of Conduct for Scientific Integrity, NGWI (also available in English). Scientific integrity is essential for science to function properly. There are a number of guiding principles which apply here: honesty, diligence, transparency, independence and accountability. In the Code of Conduct these guiding principles have been distilled into more specific standards.
Failure to comply with one or more standards in the Code of Conduct may lead to a violation of scientific integrity. The most obvious examples of violations of scientific integrity include:
- Fabrication: making up data or research findings and reporting them as if they were real.
- Falsification: the manipulation of research materials, equipment or processes to alter, withhold or remove data or research results without justification.
- Plagiarism: the use of someone else’s ideas, practices, results or texts without appropriate acknowledgement.
Do you have questions about scientific integrity or are you considering submitting a complaint? The confidential intermediaries for scientific integrity are the first point of contact, for both reporters and those involved. They provide information and advice to researchers regarding compliance with the standards of good research practice in Chapter 3 of the NGWI. They handle reports and queries in strictest confidence.
Scientific Integrity Committee
When you submit a complaint about a suspected violation of scientific integrity, it is passed on to the Scientific Integrity Committee. The committee consists of twelve members and is a joint committee of Saxion, HAN, Christelijke Hogeschool Ede, Hanzehogeschool Groningen, NHL Stenden and Van Hall Larenstein. This committee investigates the complaint and issues a recommendation to the executive board of the relevant applied university.
If you want to make a complaint about a suspected violation of scientific integrity, you should submit it to the Official Secretary of the Joint Scientific Integrity Committee.
If you need an independent mediator or have serious doubts about the due diligence of the process, you can contact the Saxion Ombudsperson.
Do you suspect, or have you experienced, an act or failure to act, which will/has cause(d) damage to Saxion and/or the interests of society? For example things like infringement of laws and regulations, wasting public money, deliberately holding back or destroying information. If so, please contact the Saxion Ombudsperson. Read more about the role of the Saxion Ombudsperson in the
regulations concerning the ombudsperson.
Saxion has laid down the regulations concerning reports in the Regulations on Reporting (suspected) wrongdoing and infringement of EU law (Whistleblower Regulations).
You can also seek advice from the Dutch Whistleblowers Authority huisvoorklokkenluiders.nl. Certainly do this if you want to report something externally. Their inhouse advisers can help you.
Sometimes tensions at home or within a relationship run so high that domestic violence ensues. This is a terrible thing to experience. It is important not to keep this to yourself, but to talk about it. After all, domestic violence doesn’t stop overnight.
Domestic violence is violence committed by a partner, ex-partner, family member, relative, roommate in your (student) house or domestic friend. This may be physical, sexual and/or emotional violence. Child abuse and parental abuse are also forms of domestic violence. Honour crimes and marrying someone off or forcing them to marry also fall under domestic violence. If you are affected contact one of our internal confidential intermediaries, they are also dedicated officers for domestic violence.
You can also always contact Veilig Thuis (Safe Home), anonymously if you prefer, for support or advice on: 0800-2000. Also when you are concerned about someone else.
For Staff
Saxion has a reporting code for domestic violence. It consists of a step-by-step plan and assessment framework; the step-by-step plan helps with early detection, careful decision-making and proper handling of reports. The assessment framework provides insight into the considerations that need to be made. If, as a staff member, you see signs that a student is experiencing or has experienced (possible) domestic violence or abuse, you are obliged to act according to the reporting code.
The behaviour mentioned above can occur in different places: physically or online, at Saxion, at your internship address, in contacts with Saxion relations and also at home. The behaviour may be taking place now or may have taken place previously. Do you think you are affected by any of the above? Then find out which people can be of key help to you.
Are you seeking additional guidance? Below you can see what else we offer.
For students
If you are a student and have had an unpleasant experience, it may also affect your studies. For example, it may affect the pace of your studies and delay you. In some cases, it can be possible to make adjustments to your studies or get financial support. If you have questions about this or need help, you can, as Saxion student, contact a student counsellor. You may also develop physical complaints. Sometimes you may experience mental effects: you might feel embarrassed, guilty or suffer from unpleasant thoughts. As a Saxion student you can talk about this with a psychologist.
For Staff
If you have had an unpleasant experience as an employee, it can affect your psychological and physical well-being. You might experience anxiety, stress, feelings of shame or guilt, you might also develop physical symptoms. As a Saxion employee, you can discuss this with an Occupational Health and Safety Adviser, you can also make an appointment with a professional through your GP or call a psychologist yourself.
Do you need urgent help?
- Contact your doctor or GP during office hours. Outside office hours, you can contact the huisartsenpost (medical centre).
- Are you experiencing sexual violence? Contact the Centrum Seksueel Geweld (Sexual Violence and Abuse Prevention Centre) on 0800-0188.
- Are you affected by domestic violence? Contact Veilig Thuis (Safe Home) on 0800 - 2000.
- Are you afraid you will harm yourself? Or are you concerned that someone else may harm themselves? Contact 113 Suicide Prevention on 0800 - 0113.
- Need to contact the emergency services (police, ambulance, fire brigade)? Then call 112.
