Anti-Bribery

Zayed University Code of Professional Ethics

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to set out the code of professional ethics for Zayed University faculty

Application

This policy applies to all Zayed University faculty.

Policy

1. Faculty, guided by a deep conviction of the worth and dignity of the advancement of knowledge, recognize the special responsibilities placed upon them. Their primary responsibility to their subject is to seek and to state the truth as they see it. To this end faculty devote their energies to developing and improving their scholarly competence. They accept the obligation to exercise critical selfdiscipline and judgment in using, extending, and transmitting knowledge. They practice intellectual honesty. Although faculty may follow subsidiary interests, these interests must never seriously hamper or compromise their freedom of inquiry.

2. As teachers, faculty encourage the free pursuit of learning in their students. They hold before them the best scholarly and ethical standards of their discipline. Faculty demonstrate respect for students as individuals and adhere to their proper roles as intellectual guides and counselors. Faculty make every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct and to ensure that their evaluations of students reflect each student’s true merit. They respect the confidential nature of the relationship between faculty and student. They avoid any exploitation, harassment, or discriminatory treatment of students. They acknowledge significant academic or scholarly assistance from them. They protect their academic freedom.

3. As colleagues, faculty have obligations that derive from common membership in the community of scholars. Faculty do not discriminate against or harass colleagues. They respect and defend the free inquiry of associates. In the exchange of criticism and ideas faculty show due respect for the opinions of others. Faculty acknowledge academic debt and strive to be objective in their professional judgment of colleagues. Faculty accept their share of faculty responsibilities for the governance of their institution.

4. As members of an academic institution, faculty seek above all to be effective teachers and scholars. Although faculty observe the stated regulations of the institution, provided the regulations do not contravene academic freedom, they maintain their right to criticize and seek revision. Faculty give due regard to their paramount responsibilities within their institution in determining the amount and character of work done outside it. When considering the interruption or termination of their service, faculty recognize the effect of their decision upon the program of the institution and give due notice of their intentions.

5. As members of their community, faculty have the rights and obligations of other residents. Faculty measure the urgency of these obligations in the light of their responsibilities to their subject, to their students, to their profession, and to their institution. When they speak or act as private persons, they avoid creating the impression of speaking or acting for their college or university. As individuals engaged in a profession that depends upon freedom for its health and integrity, faculty have a particular obligation to promote conditions of free inquiry and to further public understanding of academic freedom.

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Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

1. Purpose

1.1  This document aims to create and develop a corporate culture that supports professional values and develop the spirit of responsibility and adherence to high moral codes to increase confidence and credibility in the government sector.

1.2  This supplement is considered a guide and a general reference, due to the diversity and complexity of the ethical issues that may arise during the implementation of the university’s functions. When experiencing ambiguous situations morally, the parties concerned should bear in mind the university's commitment to the highest ethical standards and seek advice from appropriate sources in order to ensure the achievement of this commitment at all times.

2. Application

The following code of ethics are applicable to University Council members, Senior Executives, and all employees and are in line with the Resolutions issued by the Ministerial Cabinet regarding Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct or with any other federal authority.

3. Policy

The university has always committed to the code of ethics standards in all its treatments and shall continue to do so as well. For this reason, these principles were established to serve the following objectives:

·      emphasize the university's commitment to the codes of ethics and professional conduct, according to the law;

·      prior preparation of legal standards;

·      provide mechanisms for reporting process of violations of legal and ethical violations or suspected or obvious practices;

·      to assist in the prevention and detection of irregularities, if any.

4. Core Values for the Professional Code of Conduct

Core values enhance the performance of the government sector on one hand, and on the other, earns all parties the respect of the superiors, colleagues, clients and members for community. These core values are:

·      excellence, efficiency, and diligence;

·      honesty and integrity;

·      neutrality, objectivity, and transparency;

·      fairness and equality.

The university strives all the time to activate these values on all concerned parties.

5. Code of Professional Conduct

5.1. Conflict of Interest

All concerned parties must commit to their responsibilities faithfully and masterfully. They must not exercise any activity that may affect their duties and functions of the job and avoid conflicts of interests whether actual or potential. The University Council (UC) shall take all decisions and actions to fulfil the primary objective of the council service which is working for the interest of the university and the United Arab Emirates. Conflict of interests may appear when there is a contradiction between the personal interests of a member or university representatives and the interests of the university. All parties are expected to protect the integrity of the university at all times and are required to maintain the sense of belonging for all involved parties. The standards to deal with conflict-ofinterest matters are specified through the university’s Conflict of Interest and Commitment Policy.

5.2 Integrity

5.2.1 All parties must commit to execute their duties accurately, in a trustful manner and in good faith. The university seeks to attain competitive advantage through superior performance not through unethical or illegal practices. Therefore, all parties that represent the university must be characterized by integrity, honesty and professionalism when dealing with university staff or others. Neither party may exploit the impact on the job, take advantage of others, offend or deceive them, misuse confidential information, misrepresent material facts, or any other violations like disclosing confidential information to third parties without the consent of officials

5.2.2 The Vice-President of the university, the Chief Administration and Finance Officer, or the Director of the Internal Auditing must draw the attention of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (ARCC) to the following:

a) any information related to deficiency in the Internal Audit Department task or in the financial operations that may adversely affect the university's ability to record, process, summarize and submit financial statements;

b) report any fraud, whether a material effect or not, related to management or other employees who is involved in the preparation of financial reports for the university, or disclosures or in internal control over financial reporting.

5.3 Professional Confidentiality and Secrecy

All parties must preserve the confidential information entrusted to them, respect and adhere to the principles of secrecy and confidentiality with respect to public and personal information, except in times when the UC requires from the party to disclose those pieces of information or as required by law. All parties must act accordingly to ensure the protection of information through the precautionary security measures.

5.4 Protection of University Assets and Ensure Proper Usage of Them

All concerned parties must protect all university properties, materials and information assigned to them, in their possessions, or fall under their control. It also includes the university intellectual property assets, such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights. The unauthorized use or distribution of this information is considered violation of the university’s assets.

5.5 Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Procedures

5.5.1 The compliance with the law literally and morally is the basis for building the ethical standards of the university. Therefore, it is incumbent on all concerned parties, while performing their tasks, to comply with laws, regulations and procedures applicable in the United Arab Emirates and stay faithful to the country.

5.5.2 Although not all parties may be familiar with the precise content of the university’s bylaws or legislations, it is expected to familiarize one’s self with them in one way or another.

5.6 Accurate and Timely Disclosure

All concerned parties that are involved in preparing financial reports and other documents (and prepare the included information) to be submitted to the Ministerial Cabinet, the State of Audit, the Ministry of Finance or to any other authority by the university, must provide accurate and timely disclosures. It is not allowed from them to hide information, falsify or misrepresent material facts, or ignore the necessary material facts to avoid misleading the authorities or independent auditors at the university. The same standards apply to all dealers and representatives of the university who deal with other authorities.

6. Administration of the Code

6.1 The University Council shall adopt the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and they shall be followed up by the ARCC of the Council. The university administration shall design the necessary frames and procedures to ensure the effective implementation of the deeds by the senior executives and the University Council and their committees, and a periodical report shall be submitted to the ARCC.

6.2 In general, the ARCC shall follow-up any matter falling under the principles of professional conduct and related to the UC’s members and the executive management; whereas the review of other emerging issues relating to third parties should be done by the university Vice President, the Director of Internal Audit and other members selected by the Head of the UC.

7. General Guidance

7.1 All UC members and senior executives should work cooperatively to ensure the continual application of ethical and professional conduct standards. Sometimes it may be difficult to detect some of the violations due to the difficulty of predicting each case before they appear; therefore, it is required to deal with new issues confidentially. Members of the UC and executive management should inquire from the Head of the ARCC about the issues related to their duties that fall under the principles of professional conduct or any of the other university policies.

7.2 Members of the University Council, the executive administration and all employees must ratify in writing, annually, to adhere to them. The deeds may be adjusted and added to from time to time by the University Council in accordance with the review/recommendation of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee of the University Council.