C O LU MN SYLV ESTER EIJFFIN G ER
FullProfessor in FinancialEconom ics
Striving for Honor
W hat w ould you prefer:striving for m oney
about the importance of integrity. It fosters
can be confident that the other students will
and fam e,orstriving foram bition and honor?
social discipline. Such a code not only protects
not commit fraud or will not act contrary to the
agreement with the professor. Conversely, when
Perhaps,the answ er depends on the culture
the rights of everyone in the community, but
of the com pany or institution to w hich you
also signals the importance of basic moral
others are not so very particular, why would you
belong.The financialcrisis of 2008 show ed
obligations and strengthens habits of ethical
be? Wouldn’t you feel treated unfairly when only
us that the current ‘w hat’s in it form e’-culture
behavior. Those who do not act honorably can
you observe the rules they do not take to heart?
does not fosterhonorable behavior.It should
be subject to various sanctions. In the worst
Therefore, a robust code of honor would be Uto-
be noted, how ever, that both m oral and
case, students not sticking to their words and
pia for our university, in particular in light of its
im m oral behavior can w ork contagiously.
thereby breaking fundamental norms could
ambition to transcend mere knowledge transfer.
Furtherm ore,w ithin the w orld ofm orals,an
even be expelled from the institution.
After all, our rector Philip Eijlander recently spoke
assessm ent ofthe behavior ofothers plays a
Of course, a code has to be part of a process
at the opening of the academic year about the
part.Bad exam ple is follow ed by bad behav-
of thinking about the code. As the Rotterdam
university imparting to students more than just
ior.W hen people becom e calculating individ-
business ethicist Muel Kaptein puts it: “A code is
knowledge and insight: Tilburg University wants
uals,codes are needed to m aintain checks and
nothing, coding is everything”. Members of the
to incalculate in its students a sense of responsi-
balances.W hat does that m ean forem ployees
management too have to communicate about
bility, the power of judgment, and wisdom. How
and students ofa university?
which principles everyone wants to tackle the
would these aspects flourish when rooted in a
When the confidence in people is high within
other. Employees as well as students are part of
striving for honor…
an organization, the organizational processes
the university community. Organizational citiz-
Sylvester Eijffinger
in collaboration with Annemarie Hinten-Nooijen
(Academic Forum)
run smootly, the results are good, and the
inship can likewise be expected from students
atmosphere is pleasant and dynamic. People
and it is with them that this citizenship and
feel they are to an increasing degree part of the
the leading organizational values have to be
community being constructed by the organi-
discussed. In November 2009 Harry van Dalen,
zation. Here at Tilburg University, our com-
Johan Graafland and Philip Joos argued quite
munity could be a place where people accept
vigorously for ethical education in their paper
their commitments to the group and where
“‘Do the right thing’. Morele vorming in het
well-defined governance procedures guide
economieonderwijs”. It appears, however, that a
behavior for the common good. The introduc-
wake up call is still needed about virtues, values
tion of a code of honor could further encour-
and standards.
age the development of this kind of university
Virtue is based on the expectations of someone
community.
else’s virtuousness: when you expect other stu-
A code of honor makes the values and stand-
dents to behave more or less according to the
ards of the university community more explicit.
rules, you will be inclined to do so, as well. And,
It defines what constitutes honorable behavior.
when other students observe the rules, it is eas-
It contributes to the debate on the campus
ier for you to comply with them, because you
Academic Forum
where science meets society and life
Expand your horizons,take the time to reflect
www.tilburguniversity.edu/academicforum
Asset Magazine
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