UNIVERSITY OF ŽILINA

Rector’s decision no. 11/2013 

CODE OF ETHICS OF STUDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ŽILINA 

„Be nice and pleasant in the face,
kind and polite in your manners,
welcoming and truthful by your mouth,
passionate and sincere with your heart.“

John Amos Comenius 

Preamble 

Education is one of the basic human values. At the same time, it is a goal and a means of discovering the world and ourselves. It is an effective tool for moral improvement. Studying at the University of Žilina, except the demands resulting from higher education process, imposes high moral requirements on students. Generalization and formulation of these requirements is connected with this Code of Ethics.

Basic provisions

• The Code of Ethics represents the basic moral requirements for students of the University of Žilina in accordance with the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, Act No. 131/2002 Coll. on higher education and supplements to certain acts as amended, the Status of the University of Žilina and other regulations related to the study at the University of Žilina.
• Students of the University of Žilina in application of the Code of Ethics fully apply their rights and respect their obligations defined by the Higher Education Act and the Status of the University of Žilina. They have the right to respect for the freedom and integrity of their personality as a full-fledged and independent partner in all areas of UNIZA action.
• In fulfilling the principles of humanism and democracy, the personality of student is characterized by the following basic moral qualities: humanity, understanding, honesty, decency, correctness, tactfulness, consideration, responsibility, sense of duty, respect for human dignity, and consciousness of own dignity and honour. Application of these qualities becomes the regulator of students’ behaviour in a wide range of relationships that they get into during their studies at the University of Žilina.

Ethical principles of students

• Student is proud of his/her affiliation to the University of Žilina and its individual faculties. He/she always acts to maintain their seriousness and a high social credit. He/she respects their names, symbols, academic officials, teachers and other employees of the university.
• Student is aware of the fact that studying at the university is a challenging, creative, educational process of equal participants. This process requires a mutual respect of teachers and students and therefore student behaves in such way so he/she would not harm mutual relationships. In addressing the problems of teaching process and organization of life at the University of Žilina, he/she confidently turn to his/her teachers, academic officials and members of the academic senate, respecting their duties and the right to privacy.
• Student is aware of his/her responsibility for the consequences of his/her actions during the teaching process. He/she respects the study rules of the faculties of the University of Žilina and uses their provisions in accordance with good morals. During the teaching process, he/she is attentive, active and comes prepared for the lessons and exams. Student does not disrupt teaching process or testing by his/her late arrival or early departure. He/she does not disrupt teacher or other students by an activity that is not related to teaching. He/she does not use information and communication technologies during the teaching process. Computer technology, devices for recording sound and images can be used only with an agreement of a teacher. He/she is not under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs and he/she does not eat or sleep during the teaching process.
• Student does not create plagiarism in the processing of seminar, terminal and final works. He/she also does not create plagiarism in publication of the results of scientific work. He/she respects legal and ethical requirements for the use of other literary sources, uses correct quoting and mentions the literature used. In dissemination of information through the internet and social networks, he/she is aware of possible abuse of this information. He/she does not cheat during written tests and exams and uses study aids approved by a teacher.
• Student respects teachers and classmates and behaves correctly, tactfully and tolerantly towards them. When addressing teachers and colleagues in verbal and e-mail communication, he/she respects the rules of social behaviour. He/she does not bother anyone, does not discriminate and does not offend anyone for his/her origin, nationality, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability. He/she does not use violence or the threat of violence.
• Student adheres to the principles of social interaction and hygiene at the University premises. He/she attends lessons in clean appropriate clothes which are not provocative and distracting towards the teachers and classmates. He/she wears appropriate formal clothes to exams. In sporting activities or practical jobs, he/she respects the demands of teachers concerning the form of clothes.
• Student acts in a friendly manner towards the facilities and property of the University of Žilina. He/she uses technical means, computer technology and internet only for teaching purposes and does not abuse them for commercial purposes or illegal activities. He/she complies with the principles of protecting the safety and health during their use.

Final provision 

The Code of Ethics is issued by the Rector of the University of Žilina in her Rector's Decision no. 11/2013 and becomes effective on the date of issue. Student Code of Ethics obliges all students to behave in accordance with its requirements. Serious violation of these requirements, based on the opinion of the Disciplinary Board, is resolved by the deans of particular faculties in accordance with the legal regulations and status of the University of Žilina and study rules of the faculties of the University of Žilina. 

In Žilina on November 15, 2013 

Dr.h.c. prof. Ing. Tatiana Čorejová, PhD.

Rector of the University of Žilina