UKCISA/AISA Code of Ethics

UKCISA/AISA Code of Ethics for those advising international students

Preamble

All students have the right to expect the highest standards of professional conduct from those who advise them. "Professional conduct" here implies competence, fairness, truthfulness and a primary concern for the best interests of the student. The position of those who advise international students is distinctive in that they have to deal with students from a wide range of cultural, social and academic backgrounds and with a wide range of expectations about education and about ethical behaviour. They work in complex institutional environments. The students they advise may be far from home and from other sources of help and advice and may need particular help in adjusting to studying and living in the United Kingdom. Those working with international students are more likely to be involved in informal social and other activities with students. They may also find themselves more often than other members of staff having to fulfil an advocacy or brokerage role on behalf of students and may need guidance about the nature and boundaries of that role.

To consider these issues a working group was established jointly by UKCISA: The Council for International Student Affairs and the Association of International Student Advisers (AISA). The group consulted widely on the issues involved in the early part of 2000 and reported to UKCISA and AISA later that year. The report of the working group is available from UKCISA.

Following consideration of that report the following code of ethics has been adopted by the Executive Committees of UKCISA and AISA. UKCISA has commended the code to its members as appropriate for the guidance of all who may find themselves in the position of advising international students. AISA has adopted the code as reflecting the standards of professional conduct it expects of its members.

UKCISA and AISA have jointly established an ethics committee to:

keep the code under review as necessary, and in any case to review both the code and these arrangements generally after not less than three years
develop a commentary on the code for the guidance of users
advise, on request, on issues arising under the code
establish a machinery to respond to requests from AISA or UKCISA members for advice, or for help with conciliation, in the case of difficulties or disputes about matters of ethical practice
encourage training in professional ethics for international student advisers.

The ethics committee may be contacted through UKCISA, by writing or emailing to Dominic Scott. The email address is dominic@ukcisa.org.uk

email : dominic@ukcisa.org.uk