Ethical guidelines for supervision at the University of Tromsø

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Ethical guidelines for supervision at the University of Tromsø are to be enclosed with contract of supervision and contract of employment.

The supervisor is to ensure that the student/research fellow has good academic support in his/her work

• The academic competence of the supervisor should be made available to the student/research fellow.
  
• The supervisor should follow the work of the student/research fellow, and keep updated on the progress.
  
• The supervisor should help the student/research fellow get in touch with other researchers and research groups with special competence in the relevant field.

• The supervisor should provide constructive, relevant and thorough feedback.
  
• The supervisor should, at an early stage, notice and act if a project seems unrealisable, or if there are signs that the student/research fellow will have problems completing it.
  
• The student/research fellow must be prepared to completely invest the time and effort required by the project.
  
• The student/research fellow must be open and susceptible to suggestions from the supervisor.
  
• The student/research fellow must give the supervisor complete access to information about the work and its progress, and accept advice from the supervisor at an early stage if problems arise.

• The supervisor is to give the cooperation with the student/research fellow the priority agreed to when accepting the responsibilities of a supervisor.
  
• The supervisor is to keep regular contact with the student/research fellow according to the agreement between the two parties.
  
• The supervisor should read all texts submitted by the student/research fellow as soon as possible.
  
• If the supervisor is unable to read a text immediately, the student/research fellow must be informed of this, and receive information about when the text will be read.
  
• The supervisor must be well prepared for conferencing with the student/research fellow.
  
• The supervisor must keep to the agreed times for supervision, and make sure that the conference is undisturbed (turn telephone off etc.).
  
• It is the supervisor's responsibility to provide satisfactory academic support and supervision for the student/research fellow in the supervisor's absence (during sabbaticals etc).
  
• The student/research fellow is to keep in regular contact as agreed between the two parties.
  
• The student/research fellow must, to the extent possible, keep all deadlines and complete all tasks as agreed.
  
• The student/research fellow must submit texts for reading within a reasonable time before conferencing.
  
• The student/research fellow must be well prepared for conferencing with the supervisor.

• If the supervisor wishes to use the student's/research fellow's data or research results in his/her own publications or research, he/she must get permission from the student/research fellow and follow the rules of conduct for reference and credit to the contribution of other people's work.

• The supervisor has the main responsibility for ensuring that supervision takes place in an objective and professional manner, and should be aware of the authority the role of supervisor entails.
  
• The supervisor should refrain from all comments about the student/research fellow personally, physically or related to gender. The student/research fellow should show the same respect for the supervisor as a person.
  
• The supervisor must not use his/her position of authority to take advantage of the student/research fellow in any way, or to achieve private favours or services.

• The supervisor should avoid discussing internal, collegial matters with the student/research fellow.
  
• The supervisor should not discuss the student's/research fellow's affairs with other students/research fellows. The student/research fellow should show the same consideration towards the supervisor.

• It is the supervisor's responsibility to ensure that the necessary professional distance is kept, and to avoid situations that can lead to it being disturbed.
  
• The supervisor and the student/research fellow must not be related, romantically involved, or have common private economic interests.
  
• If a romantic relationship should arise, the heads of the institute or department must be notified, and the supervision contract be terminated.
  
• If the supervisor and the student/research fellow are friends, both parties must be aware of the importance of clear boundaries between the professional and the private spheres.
  
• The supervisor must not accept any form of payment for the supervision apart from what is agreed with the university.

• Both parties should be able to address problems in the professional relationship or related to the progress of the work, and make an effort to contribute to a constructive solution.
  
• If a conflict between the supervisor and the student/research fellow has arisen which the two parties cannot solve on their own, an independent third party is to be involved as a mediator. This position can be filled by different persons - head of institute, research coordinator, vice-dean or dean - in different departments.
  
• If the supervisor and the student/research fellow find it necessary to terminate the supervision, it is the faculty's responsibility to handle the change of supervisor in an orderly and satisfactory manner.