News | 21 November 2023
Cardiff Metropolitan University was today announced as the latest university to become a Founder Member of ProtectED – the award-winning national initiative, raising standards in student safety, and security in the higher education sector.
Cardiff Metropolitan University is a pioneer, being only the second university in Wales to become a ProtectED Founder Member institution. ProtectED Founder Member is a title conferred on the first twelve ‘early adopter’ universities joining ProtectED. Founder Member institutions will help steer the development and roll-out of ProtectED over the coming years.
Cardiff Metropolitan brings the student experience of over 11,000 learners from more than 143 countries within the scope of the ProtectED Code of Practice.
ProtectED recognises that universities have a broad role to play in supporting the safety and security of their students – not only while they’re on campus, but throughout their student experience. ProtectED Member institutions work towards independent assessment and accreditation against the ProtectED Code of Practice. This requires universities to have in place appropriate policies, procedures and practices that meet current best practice recommendations across a number of areas including: core institutional security; international students; student harassment and sexual assault; and the student night out. Universities can now choose to apply for each area individually, or together. In this way, a university can tailor the scheme to suit their approach to safeguarding the student experience.
ProtectED Membership thereby allows prospective students and their parents to easily identify those universities taking real action to deliver best practice in ensuring their students’ safety, and security.
Adrian Dennehy, Campus Protection Services Manager at Cardiff Metropolitan University said: “We know that going to university is an exciting time for students, many of whom will be living away from home for the first time. But with that comes many new experiences for young people. The safety of our students is our absolute priority which is why we’ve chosen to complete ProtectED accreditation to ensure that our students can thrive through their entire university experience.”
Brian Nuttall, Director of ProtectED CIC, said: “We are proud to welcome Cardiff Metropolitan University as a ProtectED Founder Member institution.
“I know that Cardiff Metropolitan University is a driver of education and social transformation, ensuring their students are supported to realise their full potential. We welcome continued commitment to ProtectED from forward-thinking universities and know Cardiff Metropolitan University will be a great asset and advocate for ProtectED. With their support, ProtectED can help ensure the safety and security of students at member institutions across the UK.”
Cardiff Metropolitan University joins a pioneering cohort of ProtectED Founder Member institutions that are working towards accreditation against the ProtectED Code of Practice. These universities are taking real action to meet best practice standards around student safety and security to achieve the ProtectED Accredited Institution award.
Cardiff Metropolitan University will be formally welcomed into ProtectED at an Evening Reception at the House of Lords early next year hosted by Baroness Ruth Henig, ProtectED patron and Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.