Ethical Principles for Educational Engagements 

Introduction and Scope

We are committed to ensuring that we make decisions to engage with external organisations to support education responsibly and with integrity, having due regard to ethical, social, environmental and governance principles.

In this document, ‘Educational Engagements’ mean engagement by the University with external organisations to support education. Examples include education institutions, employers and regional partners. Engagement covers a range of educational activities, including one-off activities and longer-term partnerships. Engagements may/may not involve payment/funding. These Principles are not intended to apply to visiting speakers, which are governed by the University’s Policy on Freedom of Speech and Academic FreedomLink opens in a new window.

This document sets out the principles under which the University operates when considering potential Educational Engagements and ensures that the University only engages with organisations which act ethically and operate in alignment with University valuesLink opens in a new window. If the engagement involves a contractual arrangement, the University’s Financial RegulationsLink opens in a new window will also apply. This document is intended to apply to Educational Engagements involving educational activities and does not apply to all goods and services purchased/supplied by the University, which are already subject to the University’s Financial RegulationsLink opens in a new window.

Our Approach

a General

Each potential engagement will be considered on a case-by-case basis and we may decline to engage in an Educational Engagement where we decide that it is high risk and/or contravenes the University’s ethics or valuesLink opens in a new window. The sectors highlighted below are not exhaustive and ethical considerations will apply to a broad range of sectors, including in evolving areas. Ethical considerations form part of the University’s due diligence processes, appropriate to the nature of the proposed Educational Engagement and the potential levels of risk involved. This includes consideration of Legal Services ‘red flagsLink opens in a new window’ and Finance Office ‘high risk countriesLink opens in a new window’ as part of the FP11 process for contractual arrangements, including Anti-Money Laundering controls.

As set out in our Education & Student Experience StrategyLink opens in a new window, our vision is for a Warwick Education to develop the agency, talent, and commitment of our student and staff communities to strive for a better world. We are committed to advancing and safeguarding the highest academic and ethical standards in all our Educational Engagements.

The Educational Partnerships Oversight PanelLink opens in a new window ensures the quality of all new, revised, and renewed educational partnerships. The Apprenticeships Oversight PanelLink opens in a new window provides assurance that apprenticeships provision is appropriately managed and that quality assurance is robust. For careers advice services provided by the University to our students and graduates, we are guided by the AGCAS Member Code of EthicsLink opens in a new window, notably the principle of impartiality to enable students and graduates to have the freedom to develop their own career paths.

We celebrate the diversity of our student community and respect students’ individual choices. We recognise that the employment market and sectors of choice may vary depending on geographical location and lived experience. An exception to these Principles may be made if the engagement is solely to facilitate a placement sourced independently by a Warwick student.

b Tobacco

In recognition of a conflict with the University’s medical research objectives and commitment to public health, we do not engage in Educational Engagements with organisations a significant part of whose business is the development, production, promotion, marketing, and/or sale of tobacco or tobacco products in any country of the world. An exception may be considered if the engagement seeks to reduce or eliminate the use of tobacco.

c Other specific sectors

We recognise that many valuable innovations and opportunities for our students arise from Educational Engagements in sectors which may require greater scrutiny to ensure they align with our ethics and valuesLink opens in a new window. We are also mindful of the AGCAS Member Code of EthicsLink opens in a new window, that our students are interested in working in a wide variety of sectors, and that our role is to be impartial in supporting their career choices. As part of our careers service for students, we encourage students to explore their values when making career decisions.