Description
The project contributes to combating discrimination and hate speech in higher education in order to achieve an academic environment free of discrimination. This objective will be achieved by increasing the capacity of universities, the Ministry of Education and of students to adequately respond to discrimination. At the moment, there is no data available on the level of discrimination in universities, yet studies have shown that intolerant attitudes are widespread among young people. SAR and its partners, NCCD and CEDS aim to assess the level of discrimination and to formulate policy recommendations for the relevant ministries; rules and procedures for universities and to create a network of volunteer-students to report on university regulations and on cases of discrimination. The Partners will engage students and university professors in 10 universities, student associations, professors’ unions, policy-makers, as well as the media and bloggers active in the education and anti-discrimination policy areas, in the project’s activities. Also, they will establish institutional partnerships with and among them.
Summary of project results
The project contributed to combating discrimination and hate speech in higher education, by increasing the capacity of universities, students and of relevant public institutions to adequately respond to this phenomenon. Previous to the implementation of this project, there was very limited data available on the level of discrimination in universities, despite studies pointing to the conclusion that intolerant attitudes were widespread among young people in Romania. Within this project, Romanian Academic Society (RAS) and its partners performed a multi-method analysis of the phenomenon of discrimination and the rules and procedures set in place to combat it and they formulated 17 policy recommendations for the relevant ministries and for universities. The project outputs also included a brochure documenting best practices and a guide for combating discrimination in universities. The project engaged the academic community, by bringing together students and student associations, professors’ unions and teaching and administrative staff from 8 universities. It created a network of volunteers who work towards disseminating the project results in universities and report on cases of discrimination. Policy-makers, the media and bloggers were also involved. Another component of the project focused on building and formalizing partnerships between the implementing organisations and other institutions with competences in the field, as well as adhering to coalitions.
Summary of bilateral results