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Exe-Change the Norm
Exe-Change the Norm: Bystander Intervention Programme
草榴社区地址 of Exeter’s Exe-Change the Norm bystander intervention programme is designed to foster a community-driven approach to addressing all forms of discrimination. Developed in collaboration with leading academics, this training equips participants with practical strategies to challenge harmful or inappropriate behaviours effectively. The student training forms part of the University of Exeter's response to the OFS E6 condition of registration, focussing on tackling harassment and sexual misconduct.
Student Training
Open to students across all campuses, this bystander intervention training consists of a single, in-person two-hour session, supported by additional resources. The workshop explores how to be an effective and active bystander in various settings, with a particular focus on responding to harassment, sexual misconduct, and racism.
Staff Training
The staff training session, also two hours long, delves into more nuanced workplace behaviours, including microaggressions and power dynamics. It encourages staff to embody and uphold the University’s core values of respect, inclusion, and community. The session also highlights the role of allyship and the use of microaffirmations to foster an inclusive environment.
Why Attend?
Both the student and staff sessions provide a safe, inclusive, and engaging space to explore these critical topics. The programme adopts a person-centred approach that emphasises skill-building through positive framing. Content is carefully tailored, with language, examples, and contextual scenarios designed to resonate with participants.
By taking part in Exe-Change the Norm, attendees gain valuable insights into the importance of bystander intervention and develop the confidence to address harmful behaviours. This training is an excellent opportunity to ask questions, engage in meaningful discussions, and contribute to a more inclusive and respectful university community.
What does the session cover?
- Defining what is, and who can be an active bystander
- Identifying the four psychological stages to intervention
- Recognise the different ways we can intervene. With perpetrators, with victims or engaging allies
- Identifying strategies and approaches for safe and effective early intervention
- Positively contribute to situations
- Identify and practise intervention and supporting techniques
How can I book on to the training?
As a student you can book onto a session via by searching for ‘bystander training’ in the event search bar. You can also ask the Guild, SU and the AU to run training sessions for your club or society. If you would like to know when the next session is then please email bystander@exeter.ac.uk
As a staff member you can visit to see when the next session is and sign up. If you are looking to run a team or department wide training then please email bystander@exeter.ac.uk or peopledevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.
What does the student Bystander programme count towards?
Apart from the all-important new skills, knowledge and behaviours – The Bystander programme can count towards the Exeter award. The Bystander session can be used as the personal development session for these awards.
If you have any questions, email us at bystander@exeter.ac.uk
As a student, if you would like to know more about staying safe then please visit this web page - Stay safe | Current students | University of Exeter
If you are a student who has been affected by any form of sexual misconduct, harassment or abuse, we are here to support you. Find out more on our Sexual Misconduct page - Sexual misconduct | Sexual misconduct | University of Exeter.
Staff can also access support if they have experienced harassment, abuse, bullying and discrimination, or if they have witnessed it, via Support and Report for staff.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The Exeter 'Exe-Change the Norm' bystander intervention programme has been developed using research and knowledge from sector leading academics, as well as making continual adjustments based on student feedback.
This bystander intervention training, which is available across all campuses, consists of a single 2-hour in-person session with follow up supporting resources. The training workshop looks at how to be an effective active bystander across a range of settings, but in particular, situations where sexism, sexual violence and racist behaviour could be seen.
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. It also forms part of the University's response to the Office for Students' (OfS) E6 condition of registration, focussing on tackling harassment and sexual misconduct.
For students - the Bystander Intervention programme is a one, 2-hour session delivered face-to-face.
The session covers the following:
- Defining who is a bystander and how to move from being passive to active
- Identifying the four psychological stages to intervention
- Recognise the different ways we can intervene. With perpetrators, with victims or engaging allies
- Identifying strategies and approaches for early intervention
- Positively contribute to situations
- Identify and practise intervention and supporting techniques
Please look at our webpage for further details. 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 鈥� please 诲辞苍鈥檛 hesitate to email bystander@exeter.ac.uk
The staff session includes the following:
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. The session provides 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鈥� 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.
Staff can visit to see when the next session is and sign up. If you are looking to run a team or department wide training then please email bystander@exeter.ac.uk or peopledevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.
If staff members are interested in a Bystander session run for their Staff Network, please email bystander@exeter.ac.uk to discuss this and any particular needs or concerns.
If you are signposting students to the training, all undergraduate students can sign up to these sessions through .
Postgraduate students can book onto the training via , or via Trent, or contacting bystander@exeter.ac.uk
Students can also ask the Guild, SU and the AU to run training sessions for their club or society. If you would like to know when the next session is then please email bystander@exeter.ac.uk
Students may find the Student FAQs on the training helpful.
Staff can learn how to become a more inclusive and considerate member of Exeter's staff community, and be more equipped to recognise and intervene constructively in inappropriate or challenging behaviours, including microaggressions. By being able to intervene and defuse in these ways, staff can be part of co-creating a more inclusive environment for our staff, students, and everyone on our campuses and beyond them.
For students, not only do they become a more inclusive and considerate member of Exeter’s community, but if they complete the session, 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.
The training is one session, lasting 2 hours, face to face. This is the case for both student and staff sessions.
A trained facilitator 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)
As the training is open to all students it will be delivered across all campuses. 草榴社区地址, St. Luke鈥檚, Penryn and Truro. Room location will be confirmed when you book onto your sessions.
A session will start with creating a safe place for all participants, setting up a contract for how we will communicate during the session and ensuring confidentiality. No names will be shared during discussion of real 鈥� life examples.
Please get in touch with the training facilitators if you have any specific accessibility needs and we will try to meet your needs. You can email bystander@exeter.ac.uk with any queries or to talk this through.
You will be sent a PDF copy of our Bystander Handbook after you have attended the session which includes signposting to further support and resources. The facilitator is contactable after the session to follow up with any questions you might have.
Yes, you can. There will be regular sessions running on Penryn and 草榴社区地址 campuses. St. Luke’s and Truro will be less frequent but still available. Please check on My Career Zone for upcoming dates or contact bystander@exeter.ac.uk for further information.
Sexual assault
Coffee shop
A group of males are in coffee shop, leering over a girl. They are competing with each other on who will be the first to inappropriately grope her.
Sexual violence
Exam chat
Group of friends texting after exam, someone uses the phrase “totally raped me” to describe the exam.
Racism
Labs social
A group of students are texting about a social event, someone excludes another student because they don’t drink and comments ‘they can’t understand them anyway’
Racism
Where are you from?
Group of people doing introductions, when someone replies to the question “where are you from?” they are met with the follow up question, “but where are you really from?”