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AUA's code of professional standards underpins its continuing professional development scheme and establishes the framework within which it expects its members to act. The Code was developed from issues identified by delegates at the annual AUA conference held in Birmingham in 1999. AUA consulted extensively with its membership before launching the code, which is endorsed by the Association of Heads of University Administration, in April 2000.
"No-one is in any
doubt that universities and colleges are complex institutions to manage.
University
administrators must strike a balance between the needs of a number of
stakeholders.
They are responsible in many ways for the welfare of our institutions,
for the
interests of staff and students, for dealing with suppliers of goods and
services,
as well as having a regard to the broader public interest and the proper
use of
funds. A set of professional standards which an individual can turn to
when there
appears to be a tension between corporate and individual professional
values is
essential."
Sir Nigel Wicks, Chair, Committee on Standards in
Public
Life
"University administrators have to strike a
balance between the needs of a number of different stakeholders. We are
responsible
in many ways for the welfare of our institutions, for the interests of
staff and
students, for dealing with suppliers of goods and services, as well as
having
regard to the broader public interest and the proper use of public
funds. The
high degree of accountability required of university administrators is
consistent
with the notion of professionalism as requiring a high degree of
accountability.
"The basis on which we deal with each other has ramifications for:
- the effective working of our institutions
- the improvement of trust and morale and encouraging a sense of belonging and ownership
- the improvement of service to our clients whether internal or external
- the development of a culture - up, down and across the organisation - whereby individuals are encouraged to behave in a professional manner.
"Both institutional and personal professional values are linked. If objectives of the kind set out above are to be achieved, then the management style must be open and participatory involving listening and consulting, and the communication strategy must be rooted in values appropriate to professional behaviour."Individual values can be put to the test as a result of a tension with the corporate values of the institution as a result, for example, of:
- pressure to cross the threshold between exploiting the rules of funding regimes and unacceptable misrepresentation of data
- the intensification of competition internationally not only for students but also for research achievement
- the development of extreme forms of managerialism
- the increased emphasis on PR, marketing and presentation, and the extent to which this can lead to pressures for inaccurate 'spin' and 'hype'
A set of professional values and an ethical code supported and buttressed by a professional organisation such as AUA, and subscribed to by AHUA, [is] an important safeguard for individuals coming under corporate pressure that conflicts with their professional ethical code."
David Allen & Eddie Newcomb, perspectives, Vol 3 II
Introduction
AUA is
an open and accessible body for all those with administrative and
managerial responsibilities
in higher education. The Association is committed to raising the profile
of the
profession and to developing best practice and the highest standards of
professionalism
in higher education management and administration. AUA's members have a
wide range
of professional interests, expertise and experience. All those who work
in higher
education share responsibility for the furtherance of lifelong learning:
students,
academics, administrators, managers and support staff, whatever their
specialisms
and particular interests, increasingly operate to a common national and
international
agenda. Administrators and managers are key members of the teams
responsible for
delivering high quality research, learning, teaching and knowledge
transfer.
The work of the Nolan (now Neill) Committee on Standards in Public Life, emphasises the need for all those working in higher education to observe the highest standards of professionalism. The AUA code of professional standards is a welcome development in achieving and sustaining this goal.
The Code
This
code of
values and principles establishes the framework within which AUA expects
its members
to set the highest standards of professionalism. In order to demonstrate
this
professionalism and their commitment and contribution to higher
education, AUA
members are expected to:
- provide high quality professional services
- develop an appreciation of the academic culture, of the traditions and values of the organisations and institutions through which it is sustained, and of the roles of colleagues at all levels and in all branches of higher education
- be sensitive to the multiplicity of clients served by the higher education administrator and to the need to balance conflicting demands
- act with integrity, honesty, fairness, professional impartiality and diligence and without discrimination
- observe due care, objectivity and respect for confidentiality
- be explicit and straightforward in their dealings with colleagues and clients
- ensure that personal interest does not override the needs of clients
- accept responsibility for their actions
- challenge existing practices and ideas when necessary
- be committed to their own personal and professional development by seeking new knowledge and skills to enhance professional performance
- foster the development of others by sharing expertise and good practice and by encouraging employers to support professional development
The information
above has been reproduced from national AUA sources.