Guidelines on harassment and bullying

OsloMet strives to be a professional, inclusive and innovative university that builds on the values innovative, diverse and learning. OsloMet wants students and staff who are aware of their roles and what is expected of them. The study and working environment at the university must be safe and promote well-being. The rights and freedoms of students and staff must be respected and safeguarded.

These guidelines on harassment are a tool for ethical reflection that supplement existing legislation and guidelines and set out requirements and expectations of students and staff at the university. Harassment and involvement in harassment, including sexual harassment, is forbidden in educational institutions and workplaces. Protection against harassment is stipulated in the Working Environment Act and the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act. Harassment means unwanted negative acts, omissions or statements that have the purpose or effect of being offensive, frightening, hostile, degrading or humiliating.

The guidelines will form part of OsloMet’s general ethical regulations and apply to all academic and social situations under the auspices of the university, both on and off its premises. Examples of situations are practical training, exchanges, field work and conferences.

The guidelines encompass students, staff, hired personnel and visitors.These must be familiar and act in accordance with the following points:

• Diversity is one of OsloMet’s core values. Diversity is about inclusion and acceptance of, and respect for, each other’s differences and individual limits.
• We must promote and encourage different views and have a culture where individuals feel confident that disagreements are not to the detriment of human dignity or health. There must be room and opportunity to give feedback on the use of language, comments, acts and behaviour, and staff and students must be open to receiving such feedback.
• No form of power misuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination, unwarranted behaviour, racism or sexual harassment must occur.
• Students and staff must show respect for each other's personal and academic integrity, and must refrain from any action or statement that might entail an attack on the other person’s dignity. Offensive, frightening, hostile, degrading, humiliating or bothersome behaviour must not occur.
• Staff must be particularly aware of the power asymmetry that exists in relation to students. Leaders must be good role models and be particularly aware of the power asymmetry that can occur in relation to their subordinates.  
• Student representatives, buddies and mentors have special responsibility to reflect on their role and position when interacting with students.
• If private relationships are initiated that could put a professional relationship to the test, or that are incompatible with maintaining such a professional relationship, the persons involved have a duty to inform their line manager or programme coordinator of the matter at an early stage.  

All students and staff have a responsibility to notify of breaches of these guidelines. Read more about whistleblowing and how you can give notification. Retaliation must not take place. Breaches of the guidelines will have consequences pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Civil Servants Act.

Managers at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University have the main responsibility for ensuring compliance with the guidelines and that breaches are notified and followed up. This responsibility also applies to other internal and external actors with responsibility for events and activities in which students or staff participate.