1.1 The University's strategy is to establish structures,
procedures and guidelines sufficient to ensure that any ethical issues
arising from its teaching and research activities and institutional
practice are given due consideration.
1.2 The University aims to develop a culture of institutional practice
wherein consideration of ethical, social and environmental issues becomes
embedded in its decision-making activities. In reaching difficult ethical
judgements, the University will be guided by application of the ultimate
test of reasonableness.
1.3 The University seeks to raise awareness of
ethical issues amongst its staff and students and to provide such procedures,
guidelines and codes as are necessary to ensure that good practice is
adopted across the breadth of its activities. The development and review
of these procedures, guidelines and codes of practice is an ongoing
process.
1.4 The institutional code of ethics also extends to, and underpins,
the University's interactions with external organisations and individuals.
2.1 The University's Council, as governing body
of the institution, has corporate responsibility for the approval and
development of its institutional code of ethics. In approving such a
code, Council furthers the University's aim to strive for the highest
standards of professional integrity.
2.2 Corporate responsibility for addressing the ethical, social and
environmental issues arising from the University's teaching and
research activities and institutional practice is discharged by key
committees or officers, including, inter alia:
- teaching, research and related activities by Senate, with recommendations
from the Ethics Committee;
- ethical investment by the Investment Committee reporting to Council;
- business ethics by the Audit Committee/Finance and General Purposes
Committee reporting to Council;
- personal and professional relationships by the Director of Personnel
reporting to the Executive Committee;
- ethical purchasing policy by the Head of Purchasing Services reporting
to the Executive Committee;
- environmental impacts of energy use by the Energy Committee, reporting
to the Executive Committee via the Estates Committee;
- environmental audit by the University's
Environmental Management Co-ordinator reporting to the Executive Committee
via the Vice-Chancellor.
2.3 All formal committees of the University, in
discharging their routine business, will seek to raise awareness of
ethical considerations and to disseminate best practice appropriate
to their terms of reference.
3.1 Council
Through the conduct of its own business, and that of its sub-committees,
Council seeks to promote the highest standards of ethical, social and
environmental responsibility.
Senate
Senate is responsible for the development and implementation of the
institutional ethics strategy as it relates to the University's
teaching, research and other related institutional activities.
3.2 Ethics Committee
The Ethics Committee is responsible for advising Senate on the development
of appropriate procedures and guidelines and for responding to requests
for guidance on ethical issues from academics, Departments/Schools and
Faculties.
3.3 Responsibility of Departments/Schools for Implementation
Each School/Department is responsible for formulating a local code of
ethics to articulate how the institutional code of ethics and codes
of practice are implemented within the department and to identify how
ethical issues specific to its discipline-base are addressed.
3.4 Responsibilities of Members of Staff
Individual members of academic staff are responsible for ensuring that
any ethical issues arising from their research, teaching, professional
practice and consultancy activities are considered in accordance with
their Department's/School's code of ethics. In addition, they
are responsible for ensuring that ethical issues are given due consideration
as they arise naturally during the delivery of the taught curriculum.
In particular, academic staff should ensure that undergraduates and
postgraduates are made aware of issues surrounding professional ethics.
3.5 All members of staff
are responsible for ensuring that they implement such guidelines, codes
of practice and procedures relating to ethical issues as are relevant
to the nature of their employment.
