THE University of Worcester (UoW) has said it is “very proud” of its record in relation to intolerance after a report found universities need to do more to tackle harassment and hate crime on campus.

Institutions have given priority to dealing with sexual misconduct and gender-based violence, with less given to other forms, such as those that are race-related, according to a report by Universities UK.

In response to the report, published this month, Universities Minister Chris Skidmore warned university chiefs that there must be a “zero-tolerance culture” to all types of harassment.

READ MORE: More action needed by universities to tackle harassment – report

The study looks at the progress UK universities have made since a taskforce was set up in 2016 to look at the nature and scale of harassment and hate crime across higher education.

It says: “Less priority has been afforded to tackling other forms of harassment, particularly hate incidents/crimes.”

The report defines a hate incident as a broader term that doesn’t necessarily involve a crime, adding hate incidents can also be described as “everyday harassment” or “micro-aggressions”.

A UoW spokesman said the city institution is “widely considered to be one of Britain’s most inclusive” but admitted more can be done.

“We have been working for many years to combat discrimination and intolerance in all its forms,” they said.

Examples of activity at the university include being a national pilot for the Bystander Intervention Programme, which has educated students and staff to recognise unacceptable behaviour and give them the confidence to challenge it. This includes racism, sexism, anti-semitism and more.

The spokesman also said, the university “actively promotes” Black History Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day and “works every day to promote a truly inclusive society”.

Earlier this month, police released CCTV of a man after a security guard was racially abused outside the university’s Hive.

READ MORE: Police release CCTV after security guard racially abused outside Hive