Apprenticeship programmes should include workshops that educate on the issue of consent in sexual relations, according to the authors of an academic study which examined knowledge about consent, sexual violence, harassment and digital intimacy among apprentices.
The study included survey outcomes which found that while most apprentices said they were satisfied with the sex education they had received in school or on previous courses, half said that verbally asking for consent was "awkward" and only half again had discussed consent with a friend.
It is intended that the findings of the report will be used for the rollout of a national programme of consent workshops for apprentices.
A total of 723 young and mostly male apprentices took part in the survey, which they accessed online, during class-time.
They reported experiences of learning about consent that were largely passive, with 93% saying they received a talk from a teacher, and 80% saying they had watched a video in class.
Less than half said they had experienced discussion-based consent workshops to help them reflect on their views and hear from their peers.
In total, 88% agreed that verbal consent should apply to all forms of intimacy, but 50% said that verbally asking for consent was "awkward".
Over 80% agreed that sharing intimate images was risky and created vulnerability, but in findings called "ambivalent" by the report authors, over 50% viewed intimate image sharing as exciting or positive and 48% agreed that it is a normal feature of relationships.
A total of 95% felt they would be somewhat or well-prepared to act if they saw sexual violence or harassment taking place, but just 36% said they would challenge sexist language.
The research was carried out by Waterford and Wexford ETB (WWETB) in partnership with the University of Galway Active Consent programme.
WWETB has piloted workshops, developed with input from apprentices who took part in the survey. It now has plans to develop, with Active Consent, more learner-centred approaches to consent education and the prevention of sexual violence.
All young people attending higher education institutions already participate in consent education, offered in most cases as part of first-year induction. The ETBs represent the further education sector, which includes apprenticeships.
Joann Power, of WWETB Apprenticeship Supports service, said the pilot workshops for apprentices in phase 2 of their training were about enabling predominantly young men to manage consent in their own lives and to play a role in preventing and responding to sexual violence.
"Our apprentices responded positively to taking part in the survey and helped us to design a consent education workshop. This success was based on presenting realistic scenarios that allow apprentices' voices to be heard," Ms Power said.
"Taking a positive but educational approach to working with young men on consent behaviour starts with strengths," Further Education and Training Lead on the UG Active* Consent Programme, Sinéad McGrath said.
"For example, nearly all apprentices in the survey agreed that you need to talk about consent before being intimate with someone.
"We share that in the workshop before opening up the discussion about issues like confidence in talking, the impact of alcohol and of the expectations we have learned growing up.
"Apprentices are a cross-section of young men in our society. Their views and behaviours reflect what their peers around the country are saying and doing," said Professor Pádraig MacNeela from the School of Psychology at University of Galway.
"As we can see from the survey findings, only half of apprentices have spoken with friends about consent. So, getting time and space to work with them in this setting is such an important step in creating more conversations about consent."
In total, 96% of the survey participants - all taking part in craft apprenticeships - were men and 92% were aged under 25 years.
