Safeguarding, Respectful Learning & Anti-Harassment Standard

GeNext MedEd Foundation — Safeguarding, Respectful Learning & Anti-Harassment Standard

Document code: GMEF-ETH-003
Version: 1.0
Status: Controlled working standard

Purpose
Supports a safe, respectful academic environment across in-person and digital programmes, fellowships, observerships, workshops, conferences, mentoring, research and institutional collaborations.

Expected environment
Participants should be able to learn, teach, ask questions, receive feedback and raise concerns without harassment, humiliation, coercion, discrimination, retaliation or abuse of authority.

Conduct concerns
Bullying; repeated humiliation; unwanted sexual conduct; discriminatory conduct; threats; stalking; intimidation; coercive personal or academic pressure; exploitative supervision; inappropriate messaging or contact; retaliation; misuse of seniority or dependency.

Supervisory boundaries
Faculty and mentors must recognise power imbalances in assessment, recommendation, publication, training access and career opportunities. Professional boundaries should remain clear and conflicts disclosed.

Immediate response
Where there is credible risk to a person's safety or welfare, protective measures may be introduced before final determination, with documentation and proportionate review.

Reporting and support
Concerns may enter through the grievance/confidential-reporting pathway. The Foundation should identify an appropriate authorised recipient and avoid forcing a complainant to report through the person complained about.

External obligations
This standard supplements and does not replace applicable workplace, institutional, statutory, POSH, child-protection, criminal-law or professional-regulatory obligations. Matters must be referred externally where required.