The problem of preventing and countering bullying in the educational environment of a higher education institution (based on the results of a monitoring study)

Abstract

The aim of the article is to analyze the results of a monitoring study on cases of bullying in higher education institutions to determine the state of a safe educational environment free from bullying and other forms of unethical behavior by participants in the educational process. The main research methods include the analysis of regulatory documents and scientific literature, a survey of higher education students (n=311) through a Google form, and the interpretation of the obtained data. The research results show that bullying, as a social phenomenon, manifests at all stages of personality development. Bullying is most prevalent among children. In Ukraine, the mechanism for responding to cases of bullying is established in the «Procedure for Responding to Cases of Bullying (Harassment), » approved by the Order of the Ministry of Education of Ukraine dated 28.12.2019 No.1646 «Some Issues of Responding to Cases of Bullying (Harassment) and the Application of Educational Measures in Educational Institutions. » However, adults as participants in the educational process are not covered by anti-bullying legislation. Creating and maintaining a safe educational environment in higher education institutions requires the development and implementation of local regulatory documents on bullying prevention and counteraction; studying various aspects of relationships between participants in the educational process (questionnaires, other forms of surveys, self-assessment); conducting monitoring studies on the state of the physical and emotional-psychological environment of higher education institutions; planning and implementing preventive measures aimed at increasing the awareness of participants in the educational process about bullying; and fostering an intolerant attitude towards any violent behavior models in interpersonal relationships.

The article analyzes the results of a monitoring study conducted at the H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University (KhNPU) in October-November 2023. The research aimed to determine the level of awareness of higher education students about the problem of bullying and its forms; identify cases of bullying in the educational environment of the institution; and ascertain the attitudes of higher education students towards manifestations of violence. The conclusions indicate that KhNPU has created and maintains a safe educational environment aimed at preventing and counteracting bullying (harassment) among higher education students. Students are aware of the concept of «bullying (harassment),» its forms, signs, and ways to respond. The university has developed a number of local documents that define the policy for preventing and counteracting bullying, regulate the mechanism for responding to cases of bullying, and conduct systematic work on bullying prevention, fostering empathy, tolerance, and an intolerant attitude towards any violence among students. Given the identified isolated cases of bullying in the educational environment of the university towards higher education students (by other students, teachers, staff), it is recommended to increase the responsibility of subjects responding to bullying cases; expand the system of measures by faculties, student self-government, and academic group curators regarding informing students about the mechanisms for reporting bullying, conducting training sessions, and meetings with relevant specialists to prevent unethical behavior by participants in the educational process and forming in them the ability to resist bullеr.