Our action plan against harassment and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)

Audencia is fully committed to combating all forms ofharassment and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). Repeated, discriminatory, degrading or humiliating comments and behavior of any kind, or behavior that undermines the integrity of individuals, are not consistent with the values of our school.

The topic of harassment in the workplace or school is still very sensitive. It can be difficult to recognize that you are a victim of harassment, despite the visible consequences on your health (loss of self-confidence, anxiety, etc.), on your social relationships (loss of confidence in those around you, withdrawal, etc.), on your studies (failing exams, dropping out, etc.) or on your professional career (disinterest, isolation from the teamn etc).

For this reason, our institution is very committed to creating a benevolent and inclusive climate within its community. Our BeeSafe @Audencia program, created in 2017 and dedicated to the fight against SGBV, was extended in 2024 to the fight against all forms of discrimination. It is today based on the following organization and action plan. 

• 5 anti-SGBV counselors
• A student life team (including a manager for life within associations) to provide support, raise awareness and regulate the situation
• Two nursing positions
• Training of 15 staff volunteers to serve as listening pairs for internal investigations with the BeeSafe team
• The possibility for all faculty members to be trained in interviewing victims and the appointment of referral teachers  
• Training for program directors, top managers, middle-managers, teaching teams, and thesis supervisors who have direct contact with students 

• The signing by all students of a charter of commitment to inclusion and respect for diversity  
• Distribution of a SGBV guide and promotion of national communication campaigns
• Internal guide for Audencia staff on the process for helping victims speak up
• The monitoring by the school of all associations' compliance with the school's commitments
• Controlling the frequency of social events, which are often associated with high-risk alcohol-related behavior, in accordance with WHO recommendations 

• 8 x 3-hour training sessions for all associations’ leaders, all members of associations, class representatives, as well as students on the associations’ campaign lists and student volunteers throughout the year, with partner EGAE
• Mandatory awareness-raising session for all students on sexist and sexual violence at the beginning of each academic year, as well as a mandatory session in semester 2 in each class group
• Mandatory awareness-raising sessions for all participants in integration weekends (GBSV, drug and alcohol prevention, etc.)
• A network of about 70 SGBV referees ensuring that the activities of each association contribute to the fight against all forms of GBSV, discrimination or denigration
• Implementation of awareness conferences for all programs in cooperation with the student association HeForShe (How to support whistleblowing? What to do if you are a victim or witness? What is a sexist culture?)
• Communicating and promoting the SGBV reporting procedure among students
• Raising awareness through ERS (Etudiants Relais Santé, French and international students) on health issues, including SGBV and risks in festive environments 
  Audencia is the first management school to implement this university-based system
• Specific, mandatory awareness-raising for international students, including French law concepts on harassment, discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence
• The integration of Audencia's policy in favor of the fight against SGBV in administrative documents  

• A listening unit and various reporting channels: SGBV referents, intranet, CSR general delegation manager, nurses, community life managers, etc.
• An investigation procedure: any situation involving SGBV or contrary to internal rules, or any report, leads to an investigation following a procedure established with experts in accordance with ministerial recommendations and the latest case law, and depending on the situation and its seriousness, to a sanction ranging from a warning/call to order, to provisional or definitive dismissal, to precautionary measures
• A monitoring committee with an external expert
• The creation of a partnership with France Victimes, the public prosecutor's office and the police to ensure a rapid response with external experts to provide psychological and legal support and to facilitate exchanges between the school and legal authorities
• The constitution of Audencia as a civil party for the victims

• A GBSV, harassment and discrimination barometer
• The follow-up on disciplinary boards 

Recognition of students' commitment to the fight against VSS and discrimination

• ECTS credits 

The plan is based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, the Conférence des Grandes Ecoles' Charter of Commitment to Inclusion and Respect for Diversity in Business Schools, as well as GBSV workshops organized at Audencia with internal stakeholders and a retrospective inventory of disciplinary committees. This plan is reinforced by additional measures resulting from the reflections of the various parties during the exchanges with students, graduates and employees on this subject since January 2024.

Any act of sexist or sexual violence constitutes an offense punishable under the conditions established by the Penal Code and may result in a disciplinary sanction independent of criminal prosecution.