Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find answers to the questions we get asked the most by staff about the ‘Exe-Change the Norm’ programme.
Exeter academics Rachel Fenton and Nate Eisenstadt have developed the ‘Exe-Change the Norm’ bystander leadership programme. This programme is comprised of three training sessions for students that target Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) priorities around gendered harms (e.g., sexism, sexual harassment, intimate partner abuse) through bystander intervention. For staff, there is a shorter 90-minute session that covers an Introduction to Bystander, power and privilege.
Exe-Change the Norm is tailored to the student community both in terms of pedagogy and content (including language, examples and contextual scenarios.) Providing a safe space to explore these topics, encouraging a person-centred approach through celebrating individual qualities and empowering people to flourish.
Part of Exeter University’s current strategic vision is to build a fair, socially just and inclusive society. Bystander training is one of the integral building blocks to reach that vision, raising awareness of important subject matter and providing skills to safely intervene when necessary.
For students - the Bystander Intervention programme is made up of three, 2-hour sessions delivered face-to-face.
The sessions are as follows;
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Introduction to bystander and social norms
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Building knowledge; Sexual and domestic violence
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Skills training; intervention strategies
For staff – we are running a 90-minute session that covers:
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Introduction to bystander and social norms
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Privilege awareness
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Skills training – intervention strategies
Please look at our webpage for further details. LINK However, if you would like to know more, have any questions (particularly before signposting the training to students) or would like to book training for your team – please don’t hesitate to email bystander@exeter.ac.uk
Due to the nature of the content, the training is delivered face to face as we want to ensure people feel comfortable having open discussions and sharing their thoughts with peers. These sessions provide a safe and inclusive space to explore these topics through encouraging a person-centred approach, whilst imparting skills and knowledge based on positive framing. This means, we create an open environment that celebrates individuals’ qualities and enables non-judgmental practice of Bystander Intervention. It also allows room to discuss any misunderstandings or misconceptions around race, sexual violence and what skilful and safe intervention can look like.
There is limited resource, and student delivery is the priority – however we are keen to reach as many staff as possible so if you are interested in the training, please get in touch via bystander@exeter.ac.uk
All undergraduate students can sign up to these sessions through Handshake.
All postgraduate students can book onto the training by contacting bystander@exeter.ac.uk
Not only do they become a more inclusive and considerate member of Exeter’s student community, but if they complete the whole programme, they gain skills and strategies in defusing potentially harmful situations. From a personal development perspective, they can also use a training session they have attended as the personal development aspect for the Exeter Award, Guild award or the AU award.
Additionally, if students attend all three sessions, they will have completed the bystander journey as shown on Handshake. This will result in receiving a LinkedIn recommendation for the Bystander programme on their profile.
They can complete the sessions throughout the academic year. Students need to check Handshake to see when the next available training session is on their campus. If they cannot find the session, they are looking for please ask them to email bystander@exeter.ac.uk
Completing Session 1 first, and Session 3 last will best facilitate learning.
Each session is 2 hours long with the whole programme being a total of 6 hours. There is no requirement for students to complete this within one academic year, but it will best facilitate learning to attend the sessions as close together as possible.
Trained facilitators working for Exeter University solely to deliver bystander training. The Exe-Change the Norm programme has been written specifically with Exeter University in mind.
You can email bystander@exeter.ac.uk
OR Lewis Nurton (l.nurton@exeter.ac.uk) and/or Sophie Binder (s.binder@exeter.ac.uk)