Ethics of Teaching and Learning

The objective of the university is to provide teaching based on research and to advance culture and well-being in the society. In order to accomplish this task, the university must create a good learning and working environment for its students and teachers, researchers, and other staff. Teachers value teaching work and strive by their actions to support the students' growth into independent, critical and flexible agents.

Our university has defined ethicality as one of the pursued values. Ethicality requires "in all of our actions high morals, tolerance, acceptance of difference, and honesty towards ourselves and others".

The university ethics work group (est. 1998) engages in active discussion over the university's values and ethical questions. On the part of research ethics, the University of Oulu is committed to follow the guidelines called "Good Scientific Practice and Handling of Its Infringements" (2002), set by the national research ethics committee.

The ethical guidelines for teachers and students have been written in the first person form as ethicality requires everybody's personal commitment. The aim of the guidelines is to create an atmosphere that values trust and cooperation, and where all parties can function well.

As a student

1) My main objective is to learn.

2) I am aware of my role as a responsible agent in the science community. I am, in it, an example for others.

3) I will take care of myself and my abilities to study, and will advance the well-being of my university community and the communal spirit.

4) I, with my actions, will advance my learning and the learning of my fellow students. I will not merely aim to complete my courses quickly.

5) I recognize the value of the work made by others and will always act honestly. I will, in my studies, advance the critical approach of the science community, truthfulness, communality, and impartiality. So

• I will not cheat or otherwise operate dishonestly in an exam or teaching situation,
• My course and seminar work, and other theses are of my own making, unless I am engaged in pair or group work when the collaboration, is made visible in the credits or in some other appropriate way,
• I will appropriately mark down the references I have used and will not claim information obtainable through e.g. Internet as my own,
• I will accept the fact that I am, as a student, a part of the science community, and understand that my individual claims cannot always be fulfilled, and thus will not pressure other students or the staff to follow them.

6) I will not, by my behaviour, disturb other's learning and working in a teaching or exam situation.

7) I will respect the teacher's teaching and research work. So

• I participate in teaching situations and I will act actively and responsibly in them,
• I will give relevant feedback of the teaching.
• I will, in my work, follow the instructions given by my teachers, and will promote positive atmosphere in the teaching situations.

As a teacher

1) As a teacher in the university, my main objective is to advancee the learning of the students. I will promote it i.e. by

• Developing myself as a researcher and a teacher,
• Treating the students equally and assessing their learning and achievements appropriately,
• Giving credit to students when their working promotes their own or others' learning,
• Advising students to alter their working methods if htey distract the learning of others,
• Intervening appropriately in dishonest activities e.g. plagiarism or cheating.

2) I recognize my role as a responsible agent in the science community. I will be a positive role model for the students and my colleagues, and an example how to operate within a science community.

3) I will take care of myself and my abillity to work, and will promote the well-being and communal spirit within the univerisity community. I will work in collaboration with my colleagues. I will not present information or research results produced by others in my own name.

4) I appreciate and develop my work as a teacher and will advance the esteem of teaching work in my unit and university.

5) I am interested in the learning of my students and respect their views and the appropriate feedback given by them.

6) I will not try, without a credit, to benefit from my students and their input.

Source: The University Ethics Group, Development Committee for University Teaching

Additional information

In ethical issues please contact:

The University Ethics Group

> Ethical Guidelines for Teachers and Students (pdf)