Universities today face an evolving challenge: how to uphold their legal duties while also building a true culture of care. Recent debates in the higher education sector have put the concept of duty of care under the spotlight. Increasingly, stakeholders (from regulators to students) are asking:
Is compliance enough, or must universities go further to nurture wellbeing and safety in all its dimensions?
This theme resonated strongly at our conference this year, where alongside our speakers, we highlighted both the progress we have made and the road still ahead.
Beyond compliance: Why duty of care matters more than ever
The UK’s Health and Safety at Work Act transformed workplace safety when it was introduced 50 years ago. Work-related fatalities have dropped from 651 a year to 138, a remarkable achievement and proof that compliance saves lives.
But compliance alone can’t tell the full story. Consider the estimated 1,000 suicides annually in the UK linked to work. Mental health, psychosocial risk, and a sense of belonging are harder to legislate for, yet just as critical to safety.
For universities, where staff and students navigate complex pressures, anything from academic demands to financial challenges, from aging estates to hybrid work patterns, a narrow focus on compliance risks leaving gaps. A broader, values-driven duty of care is needed.
Key takeaways from our conference on a culture of care
Leadership sets the tone. Research shows management backing explains nearly a third of engagement in safety and wellbeing efforts. Without visible leadership commitment, culture change won’t stick.
Care is not compromise. “Kindness without standards isn’t care — it’s compromise.” Psychological safety must go hand-in-hand with accountability.
Error is human. Rather than punish mistakes, we should design systems that anticipate and trap them before they cause harm.
Change must be inclusive. Poorly managed change can hurt people; the antidote is listening, involving, and co-creating with staff and students.
Reporting relies on trust. Near-miss reporting only works when people feel safe to speak up without fear of blame.
Care pays dividends. A culture of care is not only the right thing to do, it also delivers measurable business returns and belongs on the boardroom agenda.
Duty of care in higher education: Where next?
Universities are at a crossroads. On one hand, the legal framework demands compliance. On the other, the social contract with students and staff demands more: a holistic duty of care that integrates safety, wellbeing, inclusion, and trust.This means embedding care into:
- Governance: aligning health, safety, and wellbeing frameworks with institutional strategy.
- Culture: creating environments where care is modelled, rewarded, and expected.
- Practice: ensuring staff and students feel supported not just physically, but psychologically and socially.
Looking ahead
The journey from compliance to care is ongoing and essential. For universities, embracing a broader duty of care isn’t just about meeting legal obligations; it’s about ensuring every student and staff member feels safe, valued, and supported in their pursuit of knowledge and growth.
How AssessNET can support your university
Building a true culture of care requires the right systems, visibility, and processes to make safety and wellbeing a lived reality.
AssessNET helps universities manage health, safety, and wellbeing processes efficiently and transparently, from incident reporting and risk assessments to compliance tracking and governance reporting. By embedding these practices into one platform, universities can free up time, improve accountability, and keep people safe and supported.
Want to see how Assessnet could work for your institution?
