Current Students and Staff

// University News

20 Oct 2016

Ethical considerations of the University’s activities

The University strategy, Building Excellence, includes a section on the values that direct the way in which the University community works. The University is committed to ensuring that high ethical standards are embedded in everything it, its staff and students do and it has an Ethical Policy Framework in place to guide this. 

The Framework offers wide ranging guidance to all members of the University community on how to act with integrity, good conscience and good judgement at all times. Those members include the University’s staff and students, staff of University subsidiary companies, lay members of Council and also visiting staff and students.

It also outlines a series of ethical principles that should inform the behaviour and actions of all members of the University community. Those principles are as follows –

As active members of an international academic community, we are fundamentally committed to:

  • the creation, transmission and dissemination of knowledge for the social and economic enrichment of society
  • the Nolan principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
  • accepting our social, economic and environmental responsibilities and contributing to the wider goal of sustainable development
  • the protection of equity, human rights and civil liberties around the world, an
  • supporting the academic freedom to further knowledge and debate, within UK law.

As the representatives of a modern, progressive institution, we are also committed to:

  • excellence in all our activities
  • good governance and collegiate, transparent leadership
  • safe working practices
  • fair, rigorous and transparent processes and practice
  • encouraging social mobility and widening participation, and
  • regarding legal compliance as a minimum expectation but it may not be a sufficient response to an ethical challenge,

but we will not tolerate

  • initiation of or collusion in harmful acts,
  • giving, offering, receiving or requesting improper inducements to influence decisions affecting the interests of the University, or
  • retaliation or retribution against any person who in good faith challenges our ethical position.

Furthermore, as members of the Loughborough University community, we are committed to

  • Fostering a collegial community characterised by inclusivity, equality of opportunity, the valuing of diversity, mutual trust, respect for personal dignity and the promotion of unity across nations,
  • respect for our diverse local community
  • listening to all members of the university community, past and present
  • the promotion of health and well-being
  • valuing participation, dedication and honest endeavour, and
  • celebrating ever greater achievement and success fairly gained
  • demonstrating courage and consistency and transparency when facing challenging ethical dilemmas
  • choosing partners who share our ethical commitments, and
  • ensuring that all members of the university community embrace and promote these ethical principles.

Further information on the Ethical Policy Framework and the Ethics Committee, which oversees the Framework, are available online.