Ethics and responsibility Toolkit

Today's students are tomorrow's professionals

• Give students plenty of opportunities to explore ethical practice "in the field" through work placement, guest lecturers, real world scenarios, etc.;
• Involve practising professionals in teaching and assessment where possible;
• Introduce students to the relevant professional associations' Codes of Ethics;
• Encourage students to take active roles in community groups; and
• Promote respect for individual and cultural diversity.

Use the classroom to explore different values and perspectives

• Stress there are often no "right" or "wrong" answers, but that accepted norms and standards apply in different contexts;
• Recognise that each student will have a different set of moral values and that each one is valid, but can be challenged;
• Provide a "safe" classroom environment in which students are not afraid to expose their own value systems;
• Use class discussions of ethical dilemmas and issues of social responsibility to explore different points-of-view and value systems;
• Have "starter questions" ready to stimulate discussion;
• Design curricula that require students to explore all possibilities in ethical dilemmas;
• Ask students to think through the implications of any ethical decision they may make; and
• Introduce students to ethical behaviour and social responsibility by using a range of different teaching and learning strategies.

When assessing students' ethical behaviour and social responsibility

• Decide what you will assess - "product or process";
• Clarify the criteria and standards you will use with students;
• Ensure your own impartiality in relation to students' value systems;
• Recognise and reward students who challenge assumptions, particularly their own moral values;
• Vary the kind of assessment items you use to give all students a good opportunity to perform well; and
• Involve practising professionals in student assessment where practical.

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