Academy Ethical Positions
At the Academy, we aim to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct. The following sets of ethical principles guide all Academy decision making.
Academy Values
- Progressive leadership: embodying the courage, commitment and ambition to drive positive change for engineering and society
- Diversity and inclusion: creating cultures in which everyone can thrive, and diverse perspectives enrich our collective performance.
- Excellence everywhere: bringing evidence, expertise, integrity and a passion for continuous improvement to everything we do
- Collaboration first: prioritising collaboration and building partnerships to improve outcomes.
- Creativity and innovation: solving problems and generating opportunities through creative thinking and innovation.
Ethical Principles for Engineering
- Honesty & Integrity: Engineering professionals have a duty to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct including openness, fairness, honesty and integrity.
- Respect for life, law, the environment, and public good: Engineering professionals have a duty to obey all applicable laws and regulations and give due weight to facts, published standards and guidance and the wider public interest.
- Accuracy & rigor: Engineering professionals have a duty to acquire and use wisely the understanding, knowledge and skills needed to perform their role.
- Leadership & communication: Engineering professionals have a duty to abide by and promote high standards of leadership and communication.
Ethical Code for Charities
- Beneficiaries First: Charities should act in the interest of their beneficiaries and carry out their purposes for the public good
- Integrity: Charities and their staff should uphold the highest standards of personal conduct and institutional integrity
- Openness: Charities should create a culture that allows the public, donors, and supporters to understand how they work, spend their funds, and deal with problems
- Right to be safe: Everyone associated with the charity should feel safe and be treated with dignity and respect
The Academy policies contain our formal ethical positions and commitments. All engaged in Academy activities are expected to familiarise and adhere to all Academy policies.
Anti-Bribery
We will not accept bribes, fraud, or other corrupt inducements.
Anti-Bullying & Harassment
We strive for an inclusive and welcoming environment which is free from bullying, harassment, and all forms of sexual harassment.
Code of Conduct
We expect all working with the Academy, including Fellows, awardees, staff, partners and volunteers, to behave in accordance with all ethical policies and the General Code of Conduct.
Conflict of Interest
We will prioritise the best interests of the Academy, managing situations of potential conflict of interest.
Data Privacy
We will protect personal data and confidential data by establishing appropriate procedures and controls to ensure its appropriate use and protection.
Diversity & Inclusion
We strive for a culture where everyone can thrive and contribute diverse perspectives.
Gifts & Hospitality
We only accept gifts and corporate hospitality in exceptional circumstances, where it serves a legitimate business purpose and does not compromise our ethical values or decision-making. All such instances must be appropriately recorded for transparency and accountability.
Grant Giving
We provide funding in accordance with best practice principles of open and trusting grant-making to make life easier for those we fund. Potential awardees will always be assessed fairly, expertly, and transparently
Humans & Animals in Research, Innovation & Development
We will fund research involving animals (in the UK only) or humans where the research is conducted in full compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements and there are no feasible alternatives.
Investment
Equity investments will consist of companies with the highest 25% of ESG ratings in their sector after excluding companies involved in alcohol, tobacco, gambling, civilian firearms, military weapons, adult entertainment and genetically modified organisms.
Environmental Sustainability
We aim to minimise the impact of our activities on the environment and to influence others to do so. We aim to have net-zero emissions by 2050 in scopes 1 and 2. Partners must be aligned with Academy values and pass our Sustainability Assessment Tool.
Fundraising & Partnerships
We will accept philanthropic support from individuals and entities for the advancement of engineering in the service of society. No corporate funders’ logos are to be used on any school resources that are produced for Academy programmes.
In accordance with government advice, we will not partner with organisations or individuals that are a threat to UK’s national security and international peace and stability; provide funding or arms to terrorist groups; or involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Further, we will seek to minimise the risk that any aspect of our activities or their outcomes could be misused by a foreign state (or hostile actors) to build a capacity to target UK interests in a hostile fashion, or to control or repress populations.
Modern Slavery
We will have appropriate measures, including due diligence and training for all staff, to reduce the risk of slavery and human trafficking in our activities.
National Security Risks
We will safeguard technology or information in Academy activities from being used by foreign states (or hostile actors) to target UK interests in a hostile fashion, or to control or repress populations.
Research Integrity
We adhere to the Research Integrity Concordat, upholding the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research
Safeguarding
We will do our utmost to protect individuals engaged in Academy activities from harm, especially children & vulnerable adults.
Whistleblowing
We encourage anyone with serious concerns about any aspect of the Academy's work to come forward .
Please visit our Academy Website for more information on our policies, or contact on [email protected].
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