UNMUTE
Together with a consortium of eight higher education institutions, we are working on sustainable and evidence-informed interventions to strengthen sexual safety within higher education.
The aim of the project is to develop two e-learning programmes for higher education institutions, one for students and one for staff members, to support structural and effective prevention of sexual violence and accessible, trauma sensitive support for students and staff who have experienced it.
The e-learning programmes are being developed using Intervention Mapping, a systematic and evidence-based method for designing effective behaviour change interventions, in close collaboration (co-creation) with students and staff.
UNMUTE stands for breaking the silence surrounding sexual harassment and sexual violence in higher education. The project aims to make issues that often remain unspoken more visible and open for discussion. Beyond raising awareness, the project equips students and staff through the e-learnings with concrete knowledge, practical skills, and actionable strategies to actively contribute to a sexually safe learning and working environment.
Consortium members at the kick-off meeting in March 2026 hosted by University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
The e-learning programmes
For students
Focused on:
- Behaviour change
- Prevention of both victimisation and perpetration
- Promoting positive bystander behaviour
- Addressing risk factors such as alcohol and drug use
For staff members
Focused on:
- Increasing awareness
- Developing trauma-sensitive communication skills
- Responding appropriately to disclosures
- Providing information about referral and support pathways
Within the project, a communication and dissemination toolkit will also be developed to ensure that the e-learnings are actually used as intended: through structural embedding in the educational and professional development offerings of higher education institutions, and active participation of students and staff. To this end, an implementation and communication strategy will be developed in co-creation with diverse groups within higher education, including a practical toolkit to support institutions in their local implementation.
Activities
The first phase of the project focuses on research to build the foundation of e-learning programmes. This includes:
- A literature review
- Focus groups with students and staff members
The focus groups will take place in September and October 2026.
The project runs from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2027. The collaboration between higher education institutions is until December 31, 2028. After the project ends, the e-learning programmes will become available for implementation within higher education institutions.
Partners
- University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
- Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
- Hotelschool The Hague
- Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Inholland University of Applied Sciences
- Maastricht University
- Rutgers
- Soa Aids Nederland
Funding
Through an application submitted to the Steering Group on Social Safety in Higher Education and Science, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science awarded the project funding of €449,903. The grant application was supported by 25 universities and universities of applied sciences, nine student organisations, Government Commissioner Mariëtte Hamer, Amnesty International, and the Municipality of Amsterdam.