Code of Conduct Tilburg University
Everyone is responsible for acting with integrity. Together we (as an organization, staff, students, and guests) are responsible for the integrity of Tilburg University. The rules in this Code of Conduct will help you with your choices regarding behavior and contacts.
It is important that, within Tilburg University, there is a culture of helping each other and holding each other to account with regard to observing integrity norms and values. Tilburg University’s Code of Conduct applies the following seven themes to the actions of employees, students, and guests. Each theme has a number of rules and explains possible dilemmas.
On this site you will find the Code of Conduct in brief. The full text in the PDF is leading at all times.
Seven themes for good conduct and etiquette
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Theme 1: Etiquette and Social Safety
Within Tilburg University, we are open, we get together, and we help each other. Academic freedom is a matter of course in our organization, but this special right is not a license for undesirable behavior or for treating others with disrespect. Everyone deserves respect. Valuing each other and giving each other space ensures a safe working and study environment. Dealing with each other respectfully is the basis of good collaboration.
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Theme 2: Independence
Academic freedom and (scientific) integrity benefit from constant attention to independence. After all, a discussion about someone’s independence harms public support for scientific research and makes you personally vulnerable. The same applies to situations in which you are involved in the purchase of products or services.
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Theme 3: Use of company assets
Tilburg University strives to spend as much money as possible on education and research. Company assets are in most cases financed with public money. Allowing colleagues, fellow students, and guests to use company assets as well should be handled carefully, efficiently, lawfully, and transparently. Therefore, lending out company assets is not supposed to happen.
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Theme 4: Processing information
The university has a lot of information at its disposal, a large part of which is confidential. On the one hand, we as an organization want to be as transparent as possible, but there are situations in which confidentiality is necessary. There are all kinds of rules regarding the protection of personal data and copyrights and portrait rights.
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Theme 5: Good research practice
Honesty, scrupulousness, transparency, independence, and responsibility are the guiding principles for good research. Not considering these principles as guiding threatens both the quality and the reliability of scientific research and that of the individual scientist and the university as an institution.
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Theme 6: Good education practice
Integrity in education is necessary so that we can all rely on the value of a diploma. That means that fraud and plagiarism are out of the question. In order to prevent this, further rules have been laid down in the Education and Examination Regulations or other School regulations.
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Theme 7: Responsibility and openness
Everyone is responsible for acting with integrity. Because we are jointly responsible for the integrity of Tilburg University, a culture in which matters can be discussed is important. We help each other and allow ourselves to be called to account for compliance with integrity rules. After all, this is also part of working in a professional way.
Background of our Code of Conduct
Our values and principles are derived from our history and tradition. They help us face the challenges of our time. Our mission Understanding Society is based on the Christian and humanistic traditions in
which we are rooted. Our university has always been committed to the social embedding of our education and research, and our core values are a integrity, respect, expertise and involvement. Niet voor niets zijn onze kernwaarden:
Integrity
Our professional organization demands integrity. Integrity implies that staff and students are prepared and equipped to carry out their duties or studies adequately, carefully, and reliably, keeping in mind at all times the values and interests that are at stake. Integrity is conducive to openness, and implies considerate interaction between staff and students. It means that anyone who works at and for Tilburg University, studies, or obtains a PhD is reliable. You do not allow yourself to be guided by self-interest and self-gain.
Respect
We can function well only if we respect each other. We must therefore recognize the value of others (both within and outside the university community), respect their freedom, and refrain from causing them unnecessary harm. An example: the university demonstrates respect by involving staff and students in any decision-making processes that are relevant to them, taking into account cultural diversity, and thus promoting their independence and personal development. In social and professional interaction, we check if everyone speaks the same language. If not, the group switches to English, inclusion being the golden rule.
Expertise
Outstanding teaching and research place high demands on all staff members. These individuals combine expertise in their field of study with excellent didactic skills to contribute to the academic growth of students. Academic staff at Tilburg University challenge students to maximize their intellectual faculties. The university’s ambition to rank among the best research institutions in Europe requires us all - both academic and non-academic staff - to continually strive to further develop our professional expertise.
Involvement
of society by providing high-quality teaching and socially relevant academic research. Involvement with each other is expressed in mutual relations. Staff and students look after each other, are prepared to listen to each other, and feel jointly responsible for realizing the university’s objectives. We inspire each other and are prepared to call each other to account. By doing so, we increase the quality of work and study.
Those who work or study at Tilburg University:
- Behave appropriately, and are conscientious and thrustworthy.
- Show respect for others.
- Use their expertise in their field or study to contribute to an inspiring working environment.
- Are involved with both individuals and society.
These values and principles also put our employees, students and guests into practice in our own work and study environment, and form the basis for the 7 themes included in the Code of Conduct.
What if things go wrong?
Tilburg University attaches great importance to integrity and expects all employees and students (and other people involved) to deal responsibly with the ethical aspects. But what should you do if you suspect that something is not ethical, that something is happening that is not right or that you have a dilemma of your own?
- The aim is that you enter into discussion and that we dare to call each other to account for our
behavior. - Do you want to talk to someone else? The roadmap indicates where you can go.