The evolving landscape of safeguarding in higher education (HE) has placed increasing responsibility on institutions to create environments that are safe, inclusive and responsive to student needs. At the Safeguarding Students in Higher Education Conference 2025, hosted by Government Events, key stakeholders from across the sector gathered to explore pressing issues such as tackling sexual harassment, promoting racial equality and addressing mental health challenges.
Among the distinguished speakers was Dr Emma Roberts, Head of Law here at the University of Salford’s Business School, who delivered a compelling keynote titled ‘Uprating and Standardising Safeguarding in HE – The Need for Regulatory Reform’. Emma highlighted the urgent need for reform, noting the inconsistencies in the current regulatory framework that lead to disparities in safeguarding standards. She called for a systemic overhaul to introduce clearer accountability and ensure consistent protections for students.
Calling for the introduction of a duty of candour and an opt-out consent model
Drawing on lessons from other sectors, Emma advocated for the introduction of a duty of candour to ensure transparency following incidents of harm, alongside an opt-out consent model for nominated contacts to proactively address student crises. She emphasised that only through legislative change can these reforms be fully realised, calling for national consistency to end the “wellbeing lottery” where institutions exercise local discretion over suicide prevention policies. Embedding these reforms in law, she argued, would enable universities to take a proactive and equitable approach to student wellbeing, balancing student welfare with their autonomy.
A collective responsibility to safeguarding
In the interim, while legislative reforms are being developed, Emma stressed the urgent need for universities to adopt an interdisciplinary safeguarding model. She highlighted that safeguarding must be a collective responsibility, involving academic, pastoral and wellbeing departments – and that universities need to adapt their digital and physical infrastructures to facilitate this. A siloed approach, she warned, risks leaving vulnerable students without the support they need. By integrating these services, universities can raise the standard of safeguarding, ensuring a comprehensive, holistic approach to student safety that effectively addresses the multifaceted challenges students face.
The need for reform
The insights shared at this conference reaffirm the pressing need for comprehensive regulatory reform. As the safeguarding landscape continues to evolve, Emma’s contributions highlight that only through clearer frameworks, greater transparency and interdisciplinary collaboration can institutions ensure that every student receives the protection and support they deserve. Legislative intervention in this area must become a cross-party priority, with all political stakeholders united in their commitment to safeguarding student wellbeing and ensuring a consistent, nationwide approach.