Ethical Standards
What is ethics?
Ethics is concerned with defining what is right, moral and just. It is concerned with truth,
honesty and fairness, respecting and protecting the rights and integrity of each person,
acting with openness of intent and adequate disclosure. Ethical behaviour ensures that
others are not embarrassed, denigrated or harmed, physically, socially, economically or
emotionally, and their ethics, morals or principles are not violated.
Who is concerned?
Ethics concerns all people. Ethics delineates the interactions of persons in professional
situations with ethical behaviour demanded particularly of nurses, doctors, lawyers,
scientists, psychologist, educators and people involved with the lives and well-being of
others, whether people or animals.
Ethics in education as related to Worldview Centre
Worldview Centre will ensure ongoing compliance to the standards required by the
relevant legislation concerning higher education provision to both Australian and
international students. This includes ensuring the quality of our programs and maintaining
educational standards. Ethical guidelines must be adhered to in every aspect of course
planning, delivery, administration, marketing and in the provision of services to students.
In line with national standards, marketing of courses must be done honestly; there must be
clear rules governing entrance requirements, course costs, refund policies and the criteria
for issuing awards. Information provided to the student before enrolment must be as
complete as possible.
Ethics also govern how members of staff relate to the students, the content and teaching
methods, the conduct of examinations and the fairness of assessments. In dealing with
spiritual or philosophical issues, it is important that factual material is presented to the
students who are free to form their own opinions. Coercion, denigration of others’
viewpoint or proselytizing to one opinion must be avoided. It is essential that
confidentiality is maintained in situations where students share personal matters with staff
or other students, and staff should avoid placing themselves in compromising situations
with students.
Staff dealing with the administrative aspects (acceptance of offers, enrolments the
preparation of examination papers, processing examination results or printing Testamurs)
should sign a disclaimer, acknowledging that they have no connections with the students
involved. Should there be a conflict of interest, the staff member should declare such
conflict and withdraw themselves from the situation (Disclaimer form to be signed
annually).
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Special consideration
Due to the integrated nature of Worldview courses, a distinction needs to be made
between the academic component of a course and other professional elements, such as
personal development or suitability for a particular work or activity.
Ethical conduct for students
Ethical conduct for students includes the need to be aware that plagiarism, copying or
other forms of cheating are ethically unacceptable (see Worldview Plagiarism Policy).
There must be no fraudulent misrepresentation of their abilities or educational competence
and any work submitted must be written by the person it is purported to be.
There is an assumption that the student has mastered the necessary skills of written
communication to a level adequate to complete the course. It is assumed that the student
has mastered the common skills and abilities of written communication that are presumed
to be of an adequate level, namely the ability to spell correctly, to write a grammatically
correct and effective sentence and to construct a unified and coherent paragraph.
When interacting with others – in group work, field work, work experience or projects –
basic ethical principles apply. The code of conduct below outlines the standard of ethical
behaviour expected of students enrolled at Worldview Centre.
Code of conduct for student contact with the public as part of studies
As a student enrolled at Worldview Centre for Intercultural Studies you will have contact
with members of the public in a number of contexts as a component of your course.
Ensure that you are familiar with and adhere to the code of conduct that guides your
behaviour in those circumstances.
Ethics guards the privacy of individuals and ensures that subjects are willing participants,
cognisant of the procedures and how resultant data will be utilised and that they are not
subjected to procedures which could lead to physical, psychological or moral harm.
Questions about religion or religious practice can be regarded as sensitive information.
When gathering information for assessment purposes
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ensure that participants are aware of the procedure you will follow
ensures that participants are aware of how their responses will be used
personal information (name/ address/ telephone number) must not be collected
(Tasmanian Personal Information Protection Act, Commonwealth Privacy Act)
information must not be identifiable (no names are necessary as part of your
assessment)
participation is voluntary
participation without coercion is ensured
inform participants that they can withdraw at any time
confidentiality is ensured
treat all members of the public with respect, dignity, impartiality, courtesy and
sensitivity.
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The following modules have assessment tasks that involve contact with the public in a
specified manner.
BTB/D1-1 Discipleship: Interview church pastor, church person, student and staff about personal
goals.
BTB2-10 Bible in Cross-cultural perspective: Befriend a non-believer. Journal their cultural journey.
BTB3-13 Spiritual Guidelines for Church planters: Team exercise: put together a team of five
ministry leaders to discuss insights into their practice of spiritual disciplines etc
MCB/D1-2 Cultural Anthropology: Interview person of other ethnic group with ethnographic questions
MCB/D1-4 World Religions: Meet at least three times with a person who regularly practices another
religion. Write a reflective journal.
MCB/D2-10 Spirituality and religion: Interview with someone who practices a non religious spirituality
to find out about their journey. Discuss in class.
MCB2-13 Urbanisation and the Gospel: Interview someone working with the urban poor and 2
unemployed using questions designed to address the module outcomes.
MCB3-16 In-depth investigation: Collect statistics and information
Personal conduct
All students must:
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treat all members of staff, visiting lecturers, consultants, contractors, volunteers,
any other members of the public and other students with respect, dignity,
impartiality, courtesy and sensitivity
maintain a cooperative and collaborative approach to inter-personal relationships
act honestly and ethically in their dealings with Worldview staff, visiting lecturers,
consultants, contractors, volunteers, any other members of the public and other
students
respect the privacy of Worldview staff, visiting lecturers, consultants, contractors,
volunteers, any other members of the public and other students
ensure that they do not act in a manner that unnecessarily or unreasonably
impedes the ability of employees, honorary appointees, consultants, contractors,
volunteers, any other members of the public and other students to carry out their
study, research activities or work at the Centre, including in the Worldview Library,
classrooms and auditorium
ensure that they do not become involved in or encourage discrimination against or
harassment or bullying of Worldview staff, visiting lecturers, consultants,
contractors, volunteers, any other members of the public or other students.
Academic conduct
All students must:
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ensure that their enrolment and progress in their award course is lawful and
consistent with Worldview policies
maintain current information and observe key dates and deadlines
read all official Worldview correspondence, including email
act ethically and honestly in the preparation, conduct, submission and publication of
academic work, and during all forms of assessment, including formal examinations
and informal tests
avoid any activity or behaviour that would unfairly advantage or disadvantage
another student academically
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behave professionally, ethically and respectfully in all dealings with the Centre's
learning partners during ministry placements including missions and practicum, and
use Worldview resources, including information and communication technology
resources, in a lawful and ethical manner and for Worldview purposes only, unless
express permission has been granted for non-Worldview or private usage.
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