Handbook of ethics for Thammasat University instructors and researchers
Office of Legal Affairs
Thammasat University
Introduction
The university announced a new set of regulations concerning ethical behaviour for staff in 2008, which came into force on 31st December 2008. These regulations determine the objective of the code of conduct, which is to preserve the dignity and reputation of university staff so that they are respected by the general public. Instructors and support staff are required to strictly abide by this code of conduct at all times. Instructors should be supported and supervised in this requirement and the university needs a management system that complies with good governance. In addition, satisfactory performance of instructors has been partially dependent on adherence to the code of conduct since the 2013 fiscal year. The university has delegated supervision of this matter to the Committee for Supervision of Instructor Compliance with Professional Ethics. In light of the above, an official handbook of ethics for Thammasat University instructors, which should be regarded as the proper approach to be taken, has been compiled to inform instructors and those dealing with them.
Office of Legal Affairs
Thammasat University
Contents
Section 1: Major principles of instructor ethics
Section 2: Instructor ethics
- General code of ethics for university staff
- Specific code of ethics for instructors
Section 3: Gross breaches of the code of ethics
Section 4: Action taken following allegations of breach of the code of ethics
- Action taken where the alleged offence is not classed as misconduct
- Action taken where the alleged offence is classed as misconduct
Section 5: Disciplinary action following breach of the code of ethics
Section 6: Appealing against disciplinary action
Section 1: Major principles of instructor ethics
1. The Thammasat University Council, in meeting no. 12/2551 dated 22nd December 2008, approved the Thammasat University Regulations Concerning the Code of Ethics for Staff and Instructors 2008. The action aimed to put together a set of ethical principles to preserve the dignity and honour of the university and its staff, which would lead to respectability among the general public. Staff are required to strictly follow this code of ethics at all times.
2. The code of ethics for instructors is divided into two parts as follows:
1. Code of ethics shared with other university staff
· Ethics concerning oneself and one’s job
· Ethics concerning the carrying out of duties and one’s department
· Ethics in dealing with one’s supervisor, staff and colleagues
· Ethics in dealing with students, service users, the public and society
2. Code of ethics specifically for instructors
· Ethics in teaching
· Ethics in dealing with students
· Ethics concerning personal development
· Research ethics
3. The University Council is responsible for encouraging ethical behaviour among instructors.
4. A designated central committee will decide on cases of breach of the ethical code by instructors.
5. In cases of a breach of the ethical code, the following steps will be taken:
1. If the offence is not classed as misconduct, the supervisor of the accused will appoint an investigation committee which will report its findings to the central committee.
2. If the offence is deemed as misconduct, an investigation will be carried out and disciplinary action taken in accordance with the Thammasat University Regulations Concerning Disciplinary Action, Appeals and Complaints.
6. There are three types of disciplinary action as follows:
· Warning
· Order to carry out duties properly
· Written agreement not to repeat the breach การทำทัณฑ์บน
After disciplinary action has been taken, the incident will be recorded in the offender’s file. If the offender still fails to comply with the warning, or violates the written agreement, the offender’s actions will be treated as misconduct and the appropriate steps taken.
7. Instructors have the right to appeal against disciplinary action relating to breach of the code of ethics. The appeal should be made to the University Appeals and Complaints Committee within 30 days of being informed of the disciplinary measures.
Section 2: Instructor ethics
The Thammasat University Regulations Concerning the Code of Ethics for Staff and Instructors places ethics for instructors into two categories as follows:
a. Code of ethics shared with other university staff
1. Ethics concerning oneself and one’s job
(1) Being steadfast in moral conduct and integrity without being subject to corrupting influences.
(2) Being a morally upstanding person and behaving as is appropriate for a member of university staff.
(3) Carrying out required duties with honesty without seeking inappropriate personal gain. Staff who have a specific professional code of ethics for their particular job are required to follow that code in addition to this one.
(4) Having a positive attitude to work for greater competency and being concerned with the wellbeing of the university as a whole.
2. Ethics concerning the carrying out of duties and one’s department
(1) Adhering to an approach that strives for excellence at work, social justice and cooperation in working towards righteousness and goodness.
(2) Carrying out duties honestly and not having any related personal gain or conflict of interest with one’s position.
(3) Working with transparency and accountability.
(4) Working to the best of one’s ability and without bias or discrimination.
(5) Being punctual and using working hours for the maximum benefit of the university.
(6) Taking care when using state resources and avoiding waste as one would with one’s own resources.
(7) Preserving the reputation, honour and interests of the university by not acting in ways which would bring the university into disrepute.
(8) It is forbidden to seek benefits for oneself or one’s friends or family by using the name of the university or taking advantage of university resources.
3. Ethics in dealing with one’s supervisor, staff and colleagues
(1) Taking responsibility for one’s work, contributing to one’s department by making suggestions, helping with necessary work and helping to solve problems , as well as proposing ways to positively develop one’s own area of responsibility.
(2) Taking proper care of staff under one’s supervision, maintaining morale and welfare and listening to their concerns and opinions, as well as applying reasoning and fairness in one’s role as supervisor.
(3) Supporting colleagues in doing what is right and encouraging unity, as well as working together for the sake of the common good.
(4) Behaving towards colleagues and others in a polite, friendly and fair way.
Sexual harassment is prohibited towards one’s supervisor, staff or colleagues who are not one’s spouse.
(5) Plagiarism is prohibited.
(6) Staff must obey orders issued by their supervisor in their official capacity, as such orders are authorised both legally and by the civil service.
If a member of staff feels that their supervisor’s order may be detrimental to, or not serve the interests of, the civil service, he/she may put their concern to the supervisor in writing for consideration. If the supervisor upholds the original decision, which he/she must back up with reasons in writing, the member of staff must obey the decision.
4. Ethics in dealing with students, service users, the public and society
(1) Conducting oneself so as to be regarded by the public as having integrity.
(2) Serving students, other service users and the public to the best of one’s ability and with fairness, kindness and with courtesy. If a matter is beyond one’s capacity or professional remit, one should give appropriate reasons for not being able to help, or direct the enquirer to someone who deals with that matter.
(3) Staff are forbidden to accept assets or other benefits of an unusually high value from students, other service users or members of the public who may have benefited from that member of staff’s work. If a member of staff has already accepted such a gift and later discovers that it has an unusually high value, he/she must promptly inform his/her supervisor so that appropriate action may be taken.
(4) Staff must maintain confidentiality regarding student or service user information.
(5) Staff should behave appropriately and fairly towards students and other service users.
b. Code of ethics specifically for instructors
1. Ethics in teaching
Instructors should take responsibility for the following in their teachings:
(1) Inform students of approaches to teaching and assessment at the start of the semester and allow students to evaluate teaching within the timeframe allocated by the university.
(2) Decide on appropriate coursebooks and teaching materials for their classes in terms of quantity, level and content.
(3) Teach at the allotted time, not abandoning classes mid-way or cancelling classes without valid reasons. If a class is cancelled, a make-up class should be arranged.
(4) Be fully willing in teaching, not holding back knowledge or having personal bias.
(5) Cooperate in the process of instructor evaluation.
2. Ethics in dealing with students
Instructors should be a role model for students and someone that they can turn to for advice by doing the following:
(1) Advising on academic and other matters as required by students
(2) Providing opportunities for students to meet or contact him/her, or for students to ask for advice and informing them of this opportunity.
(3) Treating all students equally, justly and with respect.
(4) Developing his/her academic knowledge for the benefit of students.
(5) Being compassionate, forgiving and dedicated and giving moral support to students to the best of his/her ability.
(6) Serving as a good role model and behaving in a manner appropriate for the position as an instructor.
3. Ethics concerning personal development
Instructors should constantly strive to develop themselves academically by doing the following:
(1) Seeking knowledge and taking part in academic activities both inside and outside the university.
(2) Keeping pace with new developments and developing his/her teaching methods in line with the times for the benefit of students.
(3) Producing academic output that benefits society.
4. Research ethics
When conducting research, instructors should behave in the following way:
(1) Conduct and manage research honestly and morally.
(2) Conduct research in accordance with any research agreement with any supporting body and his/her department.
(3) Have background knowledge of his/her research area.
(4) Take responsibility for the study subjects, whether living creatures or not.
(5) Respect the human dignity of study participants, in particular following the standards and regulations of the Medical Council of Thailand regarding ethics for health professionals, as well as the declaration of the World Medical Association on research ethics.
(6) Think freely and without bias throughout the research process.
(7) Use the research findings in a positive way.
(8) Respect others’ academic viewpoints.
(9) Consider his/her responsibility to all levels of society.
Section 3: Gross breaches of the code of ethics
The following are considered gross breaches of the code of ethics:
(1) Plagiarism, i.e. presenting another’s academic work or expertise as one’s own.
(2) Demanding, accepting or allowing the giving of assets or other benefits from students, other service users or the general public in return for carrying out (or not carrying out) a particular action.
(3) Wrongfully altering students’ marks or examination results.
(4) Sexual harassment or sexual activity with a student who is not one’s spouse.
(5) Wrongfully releasing the private information of students and service users gained in the course of duty or from a position of trust and resulting in harm to the student or service user.
(6) Knowingly teaching or training students to carry out illegal activities or actions considered to be highly immoral by the general public.
(7) Breach of the code of professional ethics for which a professional committee has decreed the same level of disciplinary action as for gross misconduct.
The gross breaches as specified in (1), (2) and (3) are considered gross misconduct.
Section 4: Action taken following allegations of breach of the code of ethics
If an instructor is accused of a breach of the code of ethics, the Thammasat University Regulations Concerning the Code of Ethics for Staff and Instructors stipulates two possible courses of action, depending on the circumstances:
a. Action taken where the alleged offence is not classed as misconduct
1. If the instructor’s supervisor has received a complaint accompanied by satisfactory evidence, or has personally detected that the instructor has breached the code of ethics, he/she will appoint an investigation committee to deal with the matter.
2. The accused has the right to oppose the investigation committee if one or more of the following reasons apply:
· One or more of the committee members holds a grudge against the accused
· One or more of the committee members is financially indebted to the accused, or vice versa
· Other reasons that could bias the investigation or lead to an unjust outcome
3. The accused must be informed of the allegation and be given the opportunity to give their side of the story, along with evidence.
4. When the investigation is complete, the committee will submit their findings to the supervisor, who will forward his/her verdict to the central committee for dealing with breaches of ethics for its consideration.
5. Following the central committee’s decision, the supervisor will act accordingly and inform the instructor that disciplinary action will be taken, as well as the instructor’s right of appeal against the verdict.
b. Action taken where the alleged offence is classed as misconduct
If an instructor has been accused of a breach of ethics which is also classed as misconduct, his/her supervisor has the duty to investigate and follow the steps in taking disciplinary action, as prescribed by the Thammasat University Regulations Concerning Disciplinary Action, Appeals and Complaints. There is no need to appoint an investigation committee in this case.
Section 5: Disciplinary action
Breaches of the code of ethics that do not count as misconduct are dealt with in one of three ways, depending on the supervisor’s discretion:
1. Verbal or written warning
2. Order to carry out duties properly
3. Written agreement not to repeat the breach การทำทัณฑ์บน
Disobedience or violation of any of the above is deemed misconduct and the breach of the code of ethics will be recorded in the offender’s file.