Harassment in Spanish universities: a case study analysis

Abstract

The existence of research groups, authorities and training courses on mediation has favoured the consolidation of this technique in the university community. At present, most Spanish universities have incorporated mediation through different decrees and protocols. In Spain, Law 3/2022, of 24 February, on university coexistence, encourages the use of mediation in those conflicts that arise in relation to its essential functions: training (teaching), research (dissemination), management and knowledge transfer, always at the service of science, culture, quality of life and the socio-economic development of society. However, despite the fact that the aforementioned Law of University Coexistence opens the way for the implementation of mediation services to manage and resolve the conflicts that the university community presents in its exclusivity. The results of research on their use demonstrate their effectiveness, being subsidised by national or international bodies, changing the way conflicts are resolved in most judicial processes. The aim of this study is to establish a typology of the conflicts that arise in the university related to harassment situations. To this end, a qualitative methodology has been used to establish a classification of the conflicts that arise in relation to harassment at the university. Among the main conclusions drawn is that mediation can be used to resolve bullying conflicts that occur at university. At the same time, the perception of the quality of university services increases due to previous experiences developed in certain international universities. Future proposals include the need for these services to be made public to the rest of society so that people from outside the university can access them.