UKCISA/AISA Code of Ethics for those advising international students

• Preamble
• Code of Ethics
• Download Commentary

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.

In 2000 the Association of International Student Advisers (AISA) and UKCISA agreed to establish a joint working group to consult on the development of a code of ethics and report back to the two organisations. Following consideration of that report the following code has been adopted by UKCISA and AISA. We commend the code to our 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’s Policy Committee has been given the responsibility of keeping the code under review as necessary, and advising, on request, on issues arising under the code or 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 

UKCISA/AISA code of ethics

Those advising international students have a general responsibility to:

1. maintain high standards of professional conduct by actively upholding this code at all times
   1. act in the best interests of the student, while respecting institutional policies, statutory and legal requirements and the legitimate interests of sponsors
   2. recognise the power of influence that comes with their role as adviser and ensure that it is not used inappropriately
   3. be alert to ethical dilemmas and potential conflicts of interest and seek guidance when they arise
   4. share professional knowledge and skills and contribute to the professional development of colleagues.
2. In discharging their professional functions, those advising international students shall:
   1. accurately represent their areas of competence, education, training and experience
   2. recognise the boundaries of their qualifications and competence, making appropriate referrals when situations fall outside them
   3. actively seek to promote their professional development and keep themselves informed of current developments in their fields

   4. in particular, keep themselves informed, as may be relevant to their areas of advice, of developments in statutory and case law, regulations, immigration rules and procedures, institutional policies and other codes
   5. work to ensure that there are arrangements in place that will secure objective advice for students from another source where conflicts of interest may arise [see also 4.e. below].
3. In their dealings with students and colleagues, those advising international students shall:
   1. act in good faith and with fairness, consideration and objectivity
   2. recognise their own cultural and value orientations and be aware of how those orientations affect their interactions with people from other cultures
   3. be aware of, and show appropriate sensitivity to and respect for, other cultures and value systems
   4. not discriminate, or tolerate discrimination on the part of others, on the basis of ethnic or national origins, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability or age
   5. refrain from unjustified or unseemly criticism of other advisers or other institutions and seek to resolve any conflict of advice directly with the other adviser concerned in a professional manner
   6. maintain the confidentiality and integrity of information about students and of communications with students, complying with data protection law and any policy of the adviser's employing organisation on confidentiality and record keeping. Ensure that information about any circumstances in which information may be disclosed without prior authorisation is available to students
   7. do nothing to support or encourage illegal actions.
4. In their dealings with students, those advising international students shall:
   1. be clear to all parties about their role as an adviser and limit advice to matters consistent with that role
   2. provide students with information they need to make informed choices or decisions and not withhold relevant information
   3. be aware of the difference between information, advice and counselling and be able to recommend qualified counselling assistance to students who may benefit from it
   4. not advise a student where there is any conflict of interest [see also 2.e. above]
   5. be aware of circumstances in which the adviser as an individual may not be able to be certain of giving objective advice or of being thought to be objective and be prepared to secure such advice for the student by appropriate referrals
   6. refrain from becoming involved in personal relations with individual students when such relationships might result in either the appearance or the fact of undue influence being exercised upon the discharge of professional responsibilities
   7. accept only gifts (including hospitality) of nominal value and only where they do not seem intended to influence the manner in which professional responsibilities are exercised, while remaining sensitive to the varying significance of gifts in different cultures. Comply with any institutional policy on the acceptance or recording of gifts. Seek guidance from a more senior manager in any circumstance where it may seem appropriate to accept a gift of more than nominal value.
   8. ensure that students are fully advised of the procedures for them to follow to pursue complaints or to seek redress, or to defend themselves, and secure appropriate referrals where the adviser's role precludes support/representation for the student in any formal procedures.

Commentary on the UKCISA/AISA Code of Ethics for those advising International Students (March 2002)