An Inquiry into Bullying at Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology, Department of Criminology

There has been a limited study on bullying in higher education, particularly in criminology programs. The particular nature, prevalence, and impact of bullying among criminology students remain unknown. The ASIST, Department of Criminology, aims to contribute to the greater body of evidence on bullying in higher education and provide insights into the issues faced by criminology students. This study investigated bullying among criminology students at the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology (ASIST) using a descriptive research design employing correlation and comparative techniques. The research explored the relationship between students’ bullying experiences and their satisfaction with administrative responses. 270 first-year, second-year, and third-year students participated. The study was guided by several theoretical frameworks, including the Social-Ecological Model of Bullying, Labeling Theory, Social Learning Theory, Restorative Justice, and relevant criminological theories such as Differential Association and Strain Theory. Findings revealed that 62.84% of students reported experiencing bullying, with verbal abuse being the most common form. A significant portion (37.16%) of bullied students chose not to report the incidents. No significant correlation was found between demographic factors (age, sex, civil status) and satisfaction with anti-bullying measures. Based on these findings, the study recommends several strategies to combat bullying at ASIST, including raising awareness of support services, fostering a mental health culture, enhanced faculty and staff training, targeted anti-bullying programs addressing demographic vulnerabilities, improved reporting mechanisms, regular policy updates, expanded counseling services, peer education programs, and inclusive policy development. These recommendations aim to create a safer and more supportive learning environment for criminology students.