Ethics

Ethical issues are manifest in a wide variety of research activities and arise especially when the conduct of research involves the interests and rights of others. The adoption of an ethical position in respect of such research requires that the researcher observes and protects the rights of would-be participants and systematically acts to permit the participants to exercise those rights in full accordance with UK law. Ethical practice in such cases requires that participants and/or legal guardians, at a minimum, be fully informed, free to volunteer, free to opt out at any time without redress, and be fully protected in regard to safety according to the limits of best practice.

Procedures for University units

The University seeks to promote the highest standards of scientific, scholarly and professional integrity and to give due consideration to the ethical, social and environmental issues arising from its activities.

The University intends that all its activities should have positive impacts on its stakeholders and should improve the quality of the living, studying and working environment of its staff and students

The University expects to:

• Maintain high ethical standards incorporating rigour, respect and responsibility across all its activities
• Undertake activities that are environmentally sustainable and conform to high standards of environmental consideration
• Link effectively with the local and regional community, be a good neighbour and communicate honestly
• Be an employer of choice, treating employees fairly and with respect

Ethics policies

The Ethics Policy (.pdf) available to download (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader software to be able to open the PDF).

This policy develops the ethical aspects of this statement across a range of core University activities and will be reviewed annually by the University Ethics Committee. Specifically, it covers the following areas:

• University Governance and the University Ethics Committee
• Research
• The Student Experience
• Finance
• Sustainability
• Human Resources
• External Relations and Knowledge Transfer
• Procedures for Academic Schools and Professional Services in relation to Ethical Issues
• Responsibilities of the UEC in relation to Academic Schools and Professional Services
• Annual Reports to the University Ethics Committee
• Organogram of the structure of Ethics Committees at the University of Exeter

Further guidance is available though the Policy on centres  and Guidance for human participants on television  documents.

College Ethics Officers

Please contact your Department/School/College Ethics Officer for further advice about ethical approval for your research projects. For contact details consult our list of College Ethics Officers.

Ethics Committee

For details of membership and minutes of this committee, please see the Ethics Committee page.