Senate

Subject:     Ethical policy framework

Origin:       Steve Rothberg


Executive Summary: A comprehensive ethical policy framework is under development. The framework makes a clear statement of the University’s ethical principles, incorporates existing ethical processes and presents a structure for dealing with ethical issues wherever they arise.

Strategic/Operational Objectives met: To ensure ethical decision making across all our activities.

Senate Action Required: To note that the development of an ethical policy framework is underway.


An ethical policy framework is under development in the context of increasing demands to demonstrate ethical practice in areas such as research and advancement, and in general recognition of the need to ensure that consideration of ethical matters, wherever they may arise, is embedded in the University’s decision making processes.

Senate’s attention is drawn to the following features of the framework:

·                     The framework will follow the structure of the university strategy and appropriate members of university management will ensure adherence in their area of responsibility. This is consistent with existing practice on strategy implementation and risk mitigation.

·                     A one-page statement of ethical principles will be part of the framework.

·                     Inevitably, many aspects might be associated with any University but particular attention will be given to our distinctive features such as sport, the student experience, the local community and ‘research that matters’.

·                     The framework will set out principles, intentions and processes. It will not itself address specific ethical issues.

·                     The framework will include links to all relevant Codes of Conduct / Practice and additional guidance documents e.g. for research, teaching, recruitment, HR, finance, communications, advancement, estates and IT. This will assist the user and encourage consideration of currency, duplication and omission within these documents.

 A new Ethics Committee will be responsible to Council for ensuring that ethical matters in all areas of the university’s business are fully considered. The Committee will own, maintain and, where necessary, develop the framework including the review, modification and production of its detailed Codes of Practice and guidance documents. It will receive ethical issues which members of the university community have not been able to resolve locally. Such issues may result either from challenges to existing activities or as part of the process of approval of future activities. Depending on the nature of the issue, resolution might be by executive action, by a sub-committee or by the Ethics Committee itself. In exceptional circumstances, a matter may be referred to Council for final resolution. The remit of the existing ‘Ethical Advisory Committee’ will be reviewed with its establishment as a sub-committee of the new Ethics Committee the likely outcome. Independent scrutiny of ethical decisions will follow from committee memberships and by reporting to Council.

 

A number of sources of information have informed the development of the framework so far. These have included:

·         The Council for Industry and Higher Education: Ethics Matters – Managing Ethical Issues in Higher Education.

·         The Council for Industry and Higher Education: Reviewing the effectiveness of ‘Ethics Matters – Managing Ethical Issues in Higher Education’.

·         Royal Academy of Engineering Statement of Ethical Principles.

·         OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.


Author - Steve Rothberg
Date – 28/2/11
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