Mandatory training for staff
The purpose of mandatory training is to ensure that all staff at the University receive essential information, knowledge, skills and guidelines required to perform their job effectively, safely, and in compliance with laws and regulations. Mandatory training helps to reduce risks and liabilities, maintain a safe and healthy work environment, and ensure consistency in practices across the University.
All staff are required to complete the mandatory training and refresher training for their role within the timeframes provided below. Completion of mandatory training is required for staff to pass their probationary period and any staff who have not completed it will not be eligible for a Discretionary Pay Review or academic promotion.
All line managers or appointed ADR Reviewers are required to check completion of mandatory training as part of the ADR process. Outstanding mandatory training compliance reports are provided to Heads of Schools and Directors on a termly basis. Non completion of mandatory training will initially result in loss of IT access. Continued failure to complete training may result in disciplinary action.
LearnUpon
The University uses e-Learning platform, LearnUpon, to deliver mandatory training to staff. New staff are enrolled on LearnUpon within the first two weeks of their employment and will receive an email once their LearnUpon account is live, inviting them to complete their mandatory training.
Staff will receive up to 4 automated reminders, from the LearnUpon system, to complete their mandatory training:
- When registered on to a mandatory training course (new member of staff) or for refresher training (existing member of staff)
- A reminder 14 days after their enrolment
- One week before the deadline for completion is due
- Final reminder two weeks after the due date
Temporary staff and other external staff will need to contact learnupon@sussex.ac.uk for alternative access.
Mandatory training for all new staff
These courses typically take less than an hour to complete and can be accessed at a time and place to suit you.
Addressing Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Affecting Students in Higher Education
This is a mandatory course for all staff. It will help you understand the nature and impact of harassment and sexual misconduct, and how to respond effectively to disclosures. The University has a single comprehensive source of information to support the approach to eliminating harassment and sexual misconduct and this should be referred to alongside this e-learning. Complete the Addressing Harassment and Sexual Midconduct Affecting Students in Higher Education training on LearnUpon.
Refresher Period: Every 3 years
Diversity in the Workplace
An introduction to the University's approach to equality, diversity and inclusion. As part of the University of Sussex's commitment to advancing equality of opportunity for all, this course is mandatory for all staff and must be completed within the first month of employment. Complete the Diversity in the Workplace training on LearnUpon.
Refresher Period: Every 3 years
Disability Awareness
Understanding disability inclusion is essential to building an accessible and equitable university environment. In this course, you’ll explore the barriers disabled people face and learn how changes in attitudes, environments, communication and interaction can make a big difference. Highlighting legal duties, inclusive language, reasonable adjustments and planning for inclusive design, this training supports staff to feel more confident in creating a culture of inclusion and accessibility where everyone can participate and thrive. This course takes around 70 minutes to complete. Complete the Disability Awarness training on LearnUpon.
Refresher Period: Every 3 years
Fire Awareness
The course takes 30 minutes to complete and covers fire hazards, smoke and its effects, managing different types of fire, emergency procedures, and how to handle a fire at work. Complete the Fire Awareness training on LearnUpon.
Refresher Period: Every 3 years
GDPR
Gives an outline of the new General Data Protection Regulations and covers the essential information that staff need to know to ensure compliance. This course should be completed within the first two weeks of your start date. Complete the GDPR training on LearnUpon.
Refresher Period: Data Protection Refresher to be completed every 2 years.
Health and Safety Essentials
Provides a good grounding in general health and safety at work. Please ensure you are aware of any additional local arrangements for health and safety including emergency procedures, such as calling 3333 in an emergency and not 999. Complete the Health and Safety Essentials training on LearnUpon.
Refresher Period: Every 3 years
Safeguarding Essentials
This course is designed to assist you in understanding your role in safeguarding children,young people and adults at risk, and looks at what safeguarding means in practical terms. It provides information on the key warning signs that you should look out for and outlines a number of case studies and scenarios for you to consider. Complete the Safeguarding Essentials training on LearnUpon. Please note, this course is mandatory for all staff from 31 July 2024 onwards.
Refresher Period: N/A
BSMS Clinical Academic Staff
If you are a member of clinical staff in BSMS and have recent training related to the following themes below, please send your evidence of this to learnupon@sussex.ac.uk to have this transferred to your LearnUpon record. See BSMS Mandatory Training Guidance [PDF 187.25KB] for full guidance on all mandatory trainings for clinical academics in BSMS.
- GDPR / Data Protection
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (Diversity in the Workplace / Unconscious Bias)
- Safeguarding
Role-specific mandatory training
Where a role determines the training to be a requirement for the job.
Core Training for all Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) Supervisors
This course is a mandatory programme for all PGR supervisors at the University of Sussex. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practices of high-quality, inclusive supervision, equipping participants with the knowledge and confidence needed to support PGRs effectively from the outset. This training is Mandatory for all staff on Education & Research contracts at Grades 7–10. If this includes you, you will be automatically enrolled on this course.
Refresher Period: Every 3 years
Extended workforce: Employment status and IR35
This module explains how the status assessment process works and how to follow the University's procedures and guidelines for taking on external contractors. This training is mandatory for all University staff engaging people/contractors. Complete the Extended Workforce - Employment Status and IR35 training on LearnUpon.
Refresher Period: N/A
Introduction to Worktribe - Research Management System
This course provides a general introduction to the new Worktribe system, which will help manage research and knowledge exchange processes at the University of Sussex. Completing the course will allow users to understand what Worktribe is and its function, along with the different roles within Worktribe and what they do. Users will also understand how to handle the different types of information that may be stored in Worktribe and understand underlying data protection and privacy information. This training is mandatory for research staff and anyone using the Worktribe system.
Refresher Period: N/A
Prevent
Offers practical support and advice to support our wellbeing and safeguarding agenda, by giving you the skills to better meet the needs of your students, staff and visitors. This course is only mandatory for identified key staff. If this includes you, you will be automatically enrolled on this course.
Refresher Period: N/A
Recruitment and Selection
All staff who are Grade 5 or above as well as any staff who are involved in recruitment are required to complete this course within one month of employment start date, or upon taking on recruitment responsibilities. This course provides guidance on key aspects of recruitment and selection in higher education, particularly in relation to equality and diversity matters, and the strides you can make to eliminate bias. Complete the Recruitment and Selection training on LearnUpon.
Refresher Period: N/A
Research Integrity: A Brief Introduction
This is an introductory training session on the nature of research integrity and why it is so important in how we conduct our work as individual researchers, members of the University and of the wider research community. The session explains the distinctions between research integrity, governance and ethics, the underpinning values that govern our research endeavour, how these can be put into practice and what happens if things go wrong. It discusses academic freedom and research culture at the University, along with the wider national and international research integrity landscape. This training session is mandatory for all researchers and research supervisors, at all levels. Complete the Research Integrity training on LearnUpon.
Refresher Period: N/A
Mandatory training for Grades 7 and above
These courses are mandatory for certain roles, but recommended for all staff at the University and available in the LearnUpon catalogue.
Unconscious Bias
Recommended for all staff, but mandatory for Grades 7 and above. Unconscious bias refers to the biases we hold that are not under our conscious control. This programme will enable you to work towards reducing the effects of unconscious bias for yourself and within your organisation. Complete the Unconscious Bias training on LearnUpon.