Ethics and Values for Teaching Professionals and Administrators (Jeyewardenepura)

This Faculty Development Programme (FDP) draws on Paulo Freire’s idea that “we make roads by walking” to address the need for ethical practices in higher education. Higher education institutions have a significant role in supporting social, political, and economic well-being, achievable only through ethical teaching, administration, assessment, and leadership training. However, in today’s competitive, career-driven academic environment, universities often find it challenging to prioritise ethics. This struggle is less about lack of scope and more about limited time and committed faculty who can meaningfully integrate ethics into their work. Recognising this, Globethics offers a methodology designed to empower faculty with the skills and motivation to become active partners in promoting ethics within their institutions.

The program identifies three core areas, or “Essentials,” needed for ethical practice in higher education: Education, Excellence, and Ethical Dilemmas. Faculty are trained to align their work with these areas, considering both educational and institutional standards, addressing challenges and ethical dilemmas, and meeting accreditation benchmarks. Additionally, the FDP emphasises the role of faculty as custodians of ethical practices in higher education, equipping them with tools to measure, promote, and collaborate effectively. Faculty are taught skills in networking, collaboration, and handling objections, ensuring they are prepared to drive ethical standards forward in their institutions.

In supporting faculty to act as role models, the FDP also focuses on capacity building for ethical practices in higher education (CEPHE). Faculty members are trained to lead ethical research, develop academic goals, build teams, and use technology to sensitise others to ethics. Additionally, they learn how to design measurable goals and tools for ethical practices. This part of the programme encourages faculty to be visible role models for their students, departments, and communities.

To ensure long-term impact, the FDP includes efficacy checks and reporting training. Faculty learn to conduct on-site assessments to track the program’s effectiveness and make adjustments as needed. They also receive training in documenting and reporting outcomes for international platforms, enabling them to share insights, contribute to ongoing research, and further establish themselves as leaders in ethical education. Through this comprehensive, lifelong partnership, the FDP fosters an ongoing journey toward embedding ethics as a core value in higher education.