Confidential counselor

HZ strives to be a safe and pleasant learning environment. In such an environment, students and staff can develop both personally and professionally. You may find yourself in a situation where you encounter inappropriate behavior. In such a case, you can contact a confidential counselor.

Undesirable Behavior

Undesirable behavior refers to behavior you experience as unwelcome. It can take various forms. There are four categories: discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying, and aggression and violence.

  • Discrimination means that a person or group is treated unequally because of, for example, skin color, gender, orientation, or religion.
  • Sexual harassment includes any form of sexual advance, touching, but also a sexually suggestive story or a request for sexual favors.
  • Bullying can be verbal, nonverbal, and even physical. Examples include making gestures, excluding someone, pressuring someone, or insulting someone.
  • Aggression and violence include any situation in which someone is harassed, intimidated, threatened, or attacked. This can be physical, verbal, or psychological.

Undesirable behavior can occur within HZ, but also outside of it. For example, if you encounter a student or staff member during your free time, or if someone approaches you online or via app. This can involve contact between students, between staff, between students and staff, or between someone from within HZ and outside of HZ, such as an internship supervisor or research project.

Discuss undesirable behavior; this can be done with a fellow student, a colleague, a manager, a study career coach, a dean, or a program manager, for example. You can also contact a confidential counselor. Anyone who experiences undesirable behavior can report it or ask for advice, even if you witness it. The confidential counselor is available to all students, all staff, and also to internship and/or research supervisors from outside HZ. The confidential counselor will listen carefully to your story. The confidential counselor provides guidance, helps you find solutions, and refers you to someone else if necessary.

Confidential counselors

HZ has both internal and external confidential advisors. Do you want to report a problem? You can choose who you contact.

Steffi de Folter (internal)
06-444 389 64
vertrouwenspersoon.steffi@hz.nl

Jeroen van Duikeren (external)
06-302 120 60 or 085-303 12 65
j.vanduikeren@conflictcentrumnederland.nl

José van den Boomgaard (external)
085-3031265 / 06-49642328
j.vdboomgaard@conflictcentrumnederland.nl

The confidential counselor's office is located in A0.37 at the Edisonweg location in Vlissingen. Appointments can also be made at the Het Groene Woud location in Middelburg or outside HZ, even outside working hours.

You can also contact the confidential counselor if you have any indications of dishonest, unethical, or dishonest conduct, such as fraud, conflicts of interest, abuse of authority, or violations of laws and regulations. In the event of serious or systematic misconduct, the whistleblowing policy can be used. This policy provides a formal procedure for safely reporting misconduct and protects the reporter from retaliation, provided the report is made in good faith. For reports concerning integrity, the confidential advisor also offers a listening ear, helps consider possible steps, and handles the report confidentially.

In addition to welcoming, guiding, and informing reporters, the confidential advisor has two other responsibilities. The confidential advisor provides solicited and unsolicited advice to the Executive Board. The confidential advisor educates, inspires, and informs about the professional field and social safety. All this to contribute to a safe and pleasant learning environment.

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