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Welcome to the website of the study “Sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination at the University of Tartu”.

At the University of Tartu, equal treatment means that all members of the university community have equal opportunities and there is zero tolerance for harassment, bullying or discrimination (University of Tartu Guidelines for equal treatment).

Recent years’ changes in the world have put values related to equal treatment, incl. gender equality, to the test more than before, so they require conscious protection and continuous improvement. In this situation, universities have a particular responsibility, as the decisions and attitudes of the academic community shape the understandings of the entire society.

Sexual harassment, as a form of gender-based and sexual violence, as well as all forms of bullying and discrimination, have a harmful impact on both individuals and universities. For staff and students, this is manifested primarily in a decline in psychological well-being, which leads to reduced work performance among employees, a desire to leave the higher education sector, and dissatisfaction with their work. In the case of students, this results in absence from studies, poorer academic performance, isolation, and dissatisfaction with their studies. The disclosure of cases of unequal treatment, incl. sexual harassment, may at first glance damage a university’s reputation, but ultimately it rather indicates an increase in awareness and a decline in the culture of silence. When cases of discrimination and harassment not ignored but openly discussed and responded to, this helps to develop better preventive measures, clearer guidelines, and more effective support mechanisms. Therefore, equal treatment is a central topic of leadership, creating a safe and respectful working and learning environment.

Among Estonia’s universities, the University of Tartu has a leading role in advancing equal treatment. The relevant values are reflected in the University of Tartu Strategic Plan for 2026–2035 and the Gender equality plan for 2026–2030. Training courses are offered on the topic, the equal treatment website and guidelines have been created, there is a network of equal treatment support persons, and an equality officer will start work in April 2026. Last year, the senate formed the equal treatment strategy committee tasked with supporting an inclusive academic culture that values diversity. At the same time, shortcomings have emerged in the system for resolving disputes and handling students’ complaints, as well as a need for managers to receive greater support in addressing issues related to unequal treatment.

So far, insufficient data have been collected among staff regarding attitudes towards sexual harassment. Little is known about the factors that facilitate or hinder the identification of, intervention in, and resolution of cases of sexual harassment. It is also not sufficiently clear who the main risk groups for sexual harassment are, or what impact harassment has on health, learning, and career. To improve preventive measures, we need to understand the factors that influence decisions to seek help and report incidents. Bullying, discrimination and harassment have no place at the University of Tartu, and the university has taken decisive steps to create a safer, more understanding, and more supportive working and learning environment for the entire university community.

The above serves as the starting point for the study “Sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination at the University of Tartu”, taking place from April 2026 to April 2027. Read more about the study.

About the study

The study “Sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination at the University of Tartu” aims to gain an overview of the attitudes, knowledge and experiences of the University of Tartu’s staff and students regarding sexual harassment, workplace bullying and discrimination, and to develop recommendations for improving the situation based on the results. The study focuses on gender-based and sexual harassment, but also deals with harassment related to race, skin colour, nationality, disability, religious beliefs, age, having or not having children. In addition, the awareness of the ways to seek help and the readiness to react to harassment cases are studied.

To achieve the aim of the study, (1) empirical data is collected through a survey (quantitative component), and (2) a review of the relevant academic literature is prepared and focus group interviews are conducted (qualitative component).

The research questions for the quantitative survey are as follows:

• What are the attitudes of the university community towards sexual harassment (responsibility, response, reporting, the manager’s role, and role conflicts of parties on different hierarchical levels in the case of an intimate relationship)?
• To what extent are staff and students aware of the university’s internal procedures and available support options in cases of sexual harassment?
• What proportion of staff and students have encountered different forms of sexual harassment at the university, what is the profile of those who have experienced sexual harassment (based on gender, age, sexual orientation, position and rank, faculty, length of service, or level of study), and what is the profile of the perpetrators?
• What factors facilitate or hinder reporting harassment and seeking help at the university?
• What has been the impact of experiencing harassment on the health, work, and studies of staff and students?
• What are the assessments of university staff and students regarding experiences of bullying and discrimination?

The qualitative component of the research aims to establish a scientifically grounded basis for shaping the University of Tartu’s policy on the prevention of gender-based violence and sexual harassment, and for developing prevention mechanisms. The review of the academic literature examines previous research on sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination in academic environments, their prevalence worldwide, as well as the measures used in higher education to prevent and address these phenomena. The literature review also contributes to the study design and to situating the research findings in context in the final analytical report. The literature review is divided into two parts: the first focuses on studies conducted in Estonia, and the second on international literature relevant to the study. The latter mostly concerns studies conducted at European universities over the past ten years. 

Focus group interviews will enable the interpretation and expansion of the survey results by providing more nuanced insights into the knowledge, attitudes, expectations, and perceived problems of the people who work and study at the university.

Based on this aim, the research questions for the focus group interviews are as follows:

• How do staff and students perceive and conceptualise gender-based violence and sexual harassment at the university?
• According to university staff and students, what facilitates and what hinders the recognition, reporting, and handling of harassment cases at the university?
• How do existing support mechanisms (e.g. equal treatment support persons, complaint handling procedures, support services) function, and how are they perceived?
• What gaps, obstacles and needs do university staff and students identify in equal treatment policy and practice?
• What changes and preventive measures do university staff and students consider necessary in the context of equal treatment (e.g. training, communication, channels for handling incidents, empowering bystanders)?
• How can models used at European universities be applied to the development of the University of Tartu’s policies and prevention mechanisms?

Course of the study

The study has been coordinated with the University of Tartu research ethics committee (minutes 3T-18, 16.03.2026). 

The survey will be conducted in April–May 2026 among all staff and students of the University of Tartu. As at 1 January 2026, the University of Tartu had 4,713 employees and 15,573 students. Staff and students will be contacted by email, explaining the aims, organisation, and content of the study and inviting the recipients to participate. The email will include a universal link to an online questionnaire with the option to complete it in either Estonian or English. Before completing the questionnaire, participants will be asked to indicate their informed consent by ticking the corresponding box. At the end of the questionnaire, respondents are asked to indicate whether they consent to the use of their responses in the study by ticking the corresponding box. As responses cannot be linked to individual persons, two automatic reminders will be sent to all staff and students at one-week intervals. Responses will be collected over a five-week period after the first invitation. 

The questionnaire includes background questions on the respondent’s gender, age group, position, faculty, and length of service; questions on agreement with statements related to sexual harassment (attitudes); questions on experiences of sexual harassment and its impact; questions on characteristics that may potentially increase the risk of discrimination or bullying (such as disability or special needs, mother tongue, gender identity, and sexual orientation); and questions on experiences of bullying and discrimination. The survey will be carried out using the LimeSurvey platform, which stores responses on the University of Tartu’s servers. Completing the questionnaire takes approximately 10–20 minutes, depending on whether the respondent has experienced harassment, bullying or discrimination. Responses can be saved to continue completing the questionnaire later. Respondents’ IP addresses are not recorded, nor are any other identifiers collected that could be used to identify the respondent’s device. Responses cannot be linked to individual respondents. Only the research group will have access to the final dataset.  

The design of the qualitative component of the study is based on a framework developed by UniSAFE, a consortium of universities and research institutions, for assessing action against gender-based violence in universities and research organisations. The framework includes seven criteria: analysis of fundamental policies (existing documents, strategies, and guidelines), assessment of the prevalence of violence, preventive measures (raising awareness and fostering positive change), existing support and protection systems, handling of previous cases, support services, and partnerships. Not all the criteria are used in this study, and some are adapted for document and policy analysis and for focus group interviews. 

Focus group interviews will be conducted in September–October 2026 with students, early-career researchers, staff, and managers. Each focus group will have 4–8 participants. For both staff and students, a self-selection sampling approach will be used. Interested individuals may indicate their willingness to participate in an additional form that opens at the end of the quantitative questionnaire, where they can provide their contact details and background characteristics. This information enables the researchers to identify the sampling segment to which the participant belongs. Where necessary, targeted recruitment will be carried out to include representatives of underrepresented segments. All participants of focus group interviews will be informed about the content and course of the study, and they will sign an informed consent form to confirm their voluntary participation. Consent to participate may be withdrawn until the transcription of the audio recordings, which will take place within 14 days after the interview.

Given the sensitivity of the topic, the researchers are prepared to conduct individual interviews at the request of participants, offering greater confidentiality. With participants’ consent, interviews will be audio-recorded; if consent is not given, the interviewer will take notes during the interview and supplement them afterwards. Audio recordings will be transcribed for analysis purposes and destroyed immediately after transcription. During transcription, participants’ names and any features enabling identification will be removed, in line with agreements made between the participant and the researcher. Participants’ names will be replaced with codes. Pseudonymised data will be stored for ten years.

Based on the quantitative and qualitative data, a research report will be completed in April 2027, providing, among other outcomes, an overview of which UniSAFE framework criteria are in place at the university and which are lacking. It will also present recommendations to serve as a basis for future interventions.  

Data protection

Data will be collected, processed, and analysed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (GDPR) and the Estonian Personal Data Protection Act. The data controller is the University of Tartu. The principal investigator ensures the lawful and appropriate processing of data, guarantees the confidential and secure handling of the data, and provides guidance to co-researchers.  

If you have questions about the study, please write to ahistamiseuuring@ut.ee. If you have any questions regarding participants’ rights, please contact the University of Tartu research ethics committee at eetikakomitee@ut.ee. In questions related to data protection in the university’s studies, please contact andmekaitse@ut.ee.

FAQ

Who conducts the study?

The study is conducted by a research group consisting of University of Tartu researchers in cooperation with the Human Resources Office and the equal treatment strategy committee.

What is studied and why?

We aim to gain an overview of the attitudes, knowledge and experiences of the University of Tartu’s students and staff regarding sexual harassment, workplace bullying and discrimination, and develop recommendations for improving the situation based on the results. The study focuses on gender-based and sexual harassment, but also deals with discrimination related to race, skin colour, nationality, disability, religious beliefs, age, and family. Awareness of ways to seek help and the readiness to react to harassment cases are also studied. 

How is the study conducted?

The study is conducted among all staff and students of the University of Tartu. They will receive an email invitation to respond to a questionnaire in the LimeSurvey environment in April–May 2026. The email address will be used only to send the invitation and will not be linked to responses. Participants can respond in Estonian or English. In addition, focus group interviews will be conducted in autumn 2026. Participants can indicate their willingness to participate in the focus group interview at the end of the questionnaire.

Why did I receive the invitation?

The invitation to respond to the questionnaire was sent to all students and staff of the University of Tartu. The more members of the university community participate in the survey, the more accurate the overview we get of sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination at the University of Tartu. Your responses will help to make better decisions in this area.

Is my participation necessary?

Each member of the university community has different experiences, so all perspectives are important to us. We very much hope you will participate, but you are free to decide whether you wish to do so.

What will happen if I agree to participate?

If you decide to participate, we ask you to complete and submit the questionnaire sent to you by email. Completing the questionnaire will take approximately 10–20 minutes, depending on whether you have experienced harassment, bullying or discrimination. If you agree to participate in a focus group interview, we also ask you to complete a short additional form at the end of the questionnaire, so we can contact you and invite you to the interview.

What will be asked in the study?

In the questionnaire, we will ask about your general background (gender, age group, position, faculty, and length of service), your agreement with statements related to sexual harassment, your experiences of sexual harassment and its impact, the characteristics that may potentially increase the risk of discrimination or bullying (disability or special needs, mother tongue, gender identity, sexual orientation), and your experiences of bullying and discrimination.

In the focus group interviews, we will ask about your personal perceptions of the prevalence of sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination; your experiences as a bystander; your views on what could be done at the university to improve prevention and protection; and how cases of harassment should be handled.

What if I receive the study invitation twice because I am both an employee and a student?

If you have already completed the student questionnaire, please do not complete the staff questionnaire. If you have already completed the staff questionnaire, please do not complete the student questionnaire.

Do I have to answer every question?

Participation in the study is voluntary, and the topic is sensitive. Recalling or describing past experiences may cause negative emotions. If you do not wish to answer a particular question, you may skip it. You may submit the questionnaire even if you have not answered all the questions. Similarly, when participating in a focus group interview, you do not have to answer every question.

If you feel that the topic may distress you excessively, please do not participate in the survey or the focus group interview.

Can I take a break while responding?

Yes. You can resume responding within 30 minutes. If you need a longer break, you can save your responses and continue later. If you leave the questionnaire incomplete, your data will be deleted.

Why do I receive repeated invitations even though I have already completed the questionnaire?

The link to the questionnaire is universal, not individual. As we cannot determine who has already responded, we send two automatic reminders to all university staff and students at one-week intervals. If you have already completed the questionnaire, you may ignore the reminders. We apologise in advance if the reminders cause any inconvenience. Reminders help to ensure that everyone who wishes to participate can do so.

How are my data protected?

Your responses to the questionnaire cannot be linked to you personally, meaning that direct identification is not possible. Respondents’ IP addresses are not collected. Focus group interview recordings are transcribed and then deleted. We understand that responses may contain personal and sensitive information and assure you that all responses will be treated confidentially. Strict security requirements are applied to data handling, and electronic data transfer is encrypted. Data collection, processing and analysis are carried out in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Parliament and the Council and the Estonian Personal Data Protection Act.

How will the results be used?

Based on the results, a report will be prepared, and recommendations for further action will be made.

Is participation in the study beneficial for me?

You will not receive any direct benefit from participating in this study, but you will contribute to improving the understanding of sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination in the academic environment and to the development of recommendations for future action.

Do you have a question about the study?

Please write to ahistamiseuuring@ut.ee. We will make every effort to respond to and address your questions or concerns.

Questions about data protection

In questions related to data protection in the university’s studies, please contact andmekaitse@ut.ee. You may also contact the Estonian Data Protection Inspectorate.

Contact of the research ethics committee

The study has been coordinated with the University of Tartu research ethics committee (minutes 3T-18, 16.03.2026). You can contact them by writing to eetikakomitee@ut.ee.

If you need advice or support If you feel that you need support in relation to sexual harassment, bullying or discrimination, or if a colleague or a fellow student does, you will find some contact details in the advice and support section.