Ethical Principles and Values (Click here for the guidelines)
The academic and administrative staff, students, and stakeholders of Yıldız Technical University shall adhere to the following ethical principles and rules in their educational, service, and other activities, as well as in their interactions with departments and individuals.
A- General Ethical Principles
a) Respect for human rights and freedoms, as well as human dignity and labor, is recognized as a fundamental value; honesty, integrity, and transparency are essential.
b) No discrimination may be made among individuals based on language, race, color, gender, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion, denomination, or similar characteristics; differences are approached with tolerance.
c) Duties are performed with an awareness of rights and responsibilities and with the public interest in mind.
ç) Sensitivity is shown toward the environment and the rights of living beings.
d) The University’s resources shall not be used for personal gain.
e) The University’s reputation is upheld in all attitudes and behaviors.
f) Gifts of any nature or value may not be accepted, nor may any benefit be derived.
B- Principles of Management Ethics
a) Duties and responsibilities are carried out in a spirit of cooperation based on a collaborative management approach. Employees participate in the decision-making process.
b) In management-related decisions and practices, the necessary environment is provided for the free expression of opinions.
c) Pressure is not exerted through the use of influence or power.
ç) The decisions of boards and committees are taken seriously, and care is taken to ensure their implementation.
d) Merit, experience, and hard work are respected.
e) Appointments, assignments, and the distribution of work are carried out in accordance with the principles of justice and fairness.
f) Faculty members, staff, and students are not directed toward any particular interest; they are not compelled to perform duties not mandated by law.
C- Principles of Education and Teaching Ethics
a) At all stages of education and teaching, instruction and academic evaluations are conducted according to scientific merit criteria.
b) In academic promotion and award committees, it is prohibited to deviate from scientific merit criteria, to show favoritism toward individuals, to make attacks on individuals’ identities or personalities by exceeding the bounds of scientific criticism, to seek unjust benefits, or to engage in acts such as fraud or plagiarism.
c) Faculty members must be present for their classes at the time and place specified in the course schedule and may not have another faculty member teach their classes on their behalf. In the event of unavoidable circumstances, another faculty member may teach the class with the decision of the relevant committees.
ç) Faculty members shall fulfill their advisory duties with diligence and without discrimination among students. They shall contribute to resolving students’ problems.
d) No discrimination may be made among students in grading or evaluations. Students’ assignments and exams are evaluated and announced in a timely manner.
e) Students may not be pressured to purchase books or similar written or visual materials. Theses, grades, or scores may not be used as a means of coercion.
f) Roles such as referee, advisor, editor, panelist, moderator, observer, rapporteur, jury member, and similar positions may not be abused.
g) One may not accept roles such as reviewer, jury member, expert witness, rapporteur, or similar positions in fields outside one’s academic and scientific expertise.
h) Academics’ activities outside the university must not take precedence over their educational and research duties within the university.
ETHICAL VALUES
ARTICLE 6- (1) The university recognizes the individual dignity and identity, as well as the professional integrity, of all its members. Respect for human beings and human rights and freedoms is accepted as a fundamental principle. No discrimination may be made among individuals on the basis of language, race, gender, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion, denomination, or similar characteristics. Diversity is approached with tolerance. It is believed that universal ethical principles are indispensable in university life and academic activities, including science and technology, the arts, research, publishing, education and teaching, service, and relations with society. Honesty, respect for human dignity and labor, justice, academic freedom, responsibility, reliability, scientific skepticism, a critical perspective, openness to new concepts, protection, and sensitivity toward the environment, nature, and the rights of living beings form the foundation of these principles.
(2) In scientific research, adherence to ethical principles—such as commitment to scientific discipline, impartiality, respect for life and the environment, the principle of “do no harm,” informing all stakeholders about potential harm and risks, voluntary participation in research, and responsibility toward humanity and society—is fundamental.
(3) Regarding responsibilities toward society and humanity: Since scientific and artistic works are the common property of humanity—provided that intellectual property and usage rights are reserved—no part of the content of research or artistic works that concerns the benefit of society or humanity may be concealed, altered, distorted, or prohibited.
(4) In education, faculty members are required to provide an effective and safe educational environment and to conduct impartial and objective evaluations within the framework of the principles of professionalism, responsibility, justice, and equality.
(5) In university life—whether in administration, management, the evaluation of individuals and work, examinations, jury service, the assessment of performance and applications, or the conduct of individual and institutional relationships such as peer review and editorial duties— in any setting where the University is represented, and in the provision of other public services and activities, all staff and students must adhere to fundamental ethical principles and rules.