Course aims:

Development of knowledge, appreciation, and evaluation of the main perspectives on academic ethics.
Development of the ability to identify and resolve problems with ethical implications (ethical dilemmas).
Acquisition of knowledge and skills necessary to understand, respect, draft, and implement codes of ethics and professional integrity.

Course Entry Requirements:

-

Course contents:

1. What is ethics? What is university ethics? Interdisciplinary and integrative approaches – 2h
2. Deontology and morality. Academic integrity – 2h
3. Ethical codes and principles – 2h
4. Personal autonomy and academic freedom – 2h
5. Loyalty to the institution – 2h
6. The university course and seminar – 2h
7. Academic activities of students – 2h
8. Preparation of teaching materials – 2h
9. Plagiarism and self-plagiarism. Ethical issues of research and publication – 2h
10. Corruption – concept, prevention, counteraction; The hidden cost of favors – conflict of interest; Transparency – a panacea? Ethical careers; whistleblowers vs. ethics advisers – 2h
11. Legislative regulations in the field – 2h
12. Professional ethical codes; Errors, mistakes, and sanctions; Ethical issues in teaching, among colleagues, related to money, confidentiality, informed consent – 2h
13. How do we restore ethical health? – 2h
14. Future and perspectives: Illusion turned reality, institutionalization of ethics – 2h

Teaching methods:

Lecture, conversation, exemplification.

Learning outcomes:

Ethics has been described as being like oxygen: we notice it only when it is missing. Some argue that integrity is not the greatest achievement of an individual, but the most difficult to attain. In today’s complex and diverse society, people may act against others without paying for the risks they create, as Nassim Nicholas Taleb noted, modern individuals “may have options at the expense of others.”

 

Learning outcomes verification and assessment criteria:

Oral examination – 100%

Recommended reading:

Ariely, D., The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty., Publica, Bucharest, 2012, -.
Boncu, Ș., Curelaru, M., Nastas, D., Onici, O., Norms, Laws, and Whistleblowers, Social Psychology, -, Iași, 2017, -.
Boncu, S., Tolerated Deviance, Al. I. Cuza University Press., Iași, 2000, -.