Comprehensive Study Guide to the Code of Ethics and Deontology of the Iasi University of Life Sciences (USV Iasi)
Legal Framework and General Scope of the Academic Code
The Code of Ethics and Deontology at the “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences from Iași (USV Iași), identified as Code C.02.IULS, derives its authority from a comprehensive suite of national legislation and internal regulations. The primary national statutes include Law no. regarding higher education, Law no. on the status of research and development personnel, and Government Decision no. which established the framework for the national university code of ethics. Further regulatory support is provided by Order no. regarding the prevention of xenophobia and hate speech, the Labor Code (Law no. ), and various anti-corruption and transparency laws such as Law no. and Law no. . Professional and managerial standards are also shaped by Order no. regarding internal managerial control and Decree no. which audits the ethics of doctoral theses produced between and . Locally, the code is integrated with the University Charter and regulations approved by the USV Iași Senate.
This Code acts as a moral contract between the individual members of the university and the institution as a collective whole. It officially became mandatory for all staff and academic community members as of , following the enactment of Law no. . The community is defined broadly to include students, doctoral candidates, teaching and research staff, auxiliary personnel, administrative staff, and honorary members such as those holding the title of Doctor Honoris Causa. The primary goals of these regulations include enhancing the quality of the educational and research processes, fostering a climate of mutual respect and trust, and protecting the fundamental right to quality education and the institutional prestige of USV Iași.
Analytical Definitions of Ethical Terms and Concepts
The Code provides precise definitions for administrative and behavioral terminology to ensure clarity in enforcement. An "Abatere" (Deviation) is any violation of administrative or disciplinary provisions. The "Anchetă" (Investigation) is the initial investigative phase to determine the validity of a complaint, typically conducted by a small group. "Autoplagiat" (Self-plagiarism) involves republishing substantial portions of one's own previous work, including translations, without proper citation of the original source. "Coauthor" refers to any person listed as an author on a scientific publication. "Confidențialitate" (Confidentiality) demands secrecy regarding ongoing or unpublished research and protects the identities of both the accused and the accuser in fraud allegations.
Specific forms of scientific misconduct are strictly defined. "Confecționarea de rezultate sau date" (Fabrication of data) is the reporting of fictitious results not derived from actual research. "Falsificarea de rezultate sau date" (Falsification) involves the selective reporting, manipulation of illustrations, or alteration of experimental processes to distort scientific truth without disclosure. "Plagiat" (Plagiarism) is the presentation of texts, ideas, or methods from others as one’s own original contribution without proper attribution. "Fraudă" (Fraud) encompasses deceit, embezzlement, or theft intended to create profit or cause damage. "Bullying" or psychological violence is defined as intentional actions—physical, verbal, or cyber—that involve a power imbalance and result in a hostile, humilating, or exclusionary atmosphere.
Core Ethical Principles Governing the Academic Community
USV Iași adheres to several fundamental principles including academic freedom, personal autonomy, equity, and transparency. Academic freedom ensures that every member can openly express scientific and professional opinions in educational and public settings, provided they do not infringe upon the rights of others. This freedom is limited by law and prohibits the use of the university space for political propaganda, religious proselytism, or the promotion of extremist doctrines such as fascism, communism, or racism. Personal autonomy guarantees members the right to manage their own academic careers and express private opinions outside their professional roles, while also requiring them to update their teaching materials to ensure they are current and representative.
Justice, honesty, and intellectual integrity are considered the foundation of the teacher-student relationship. Faculty members must avoid all forms of exploitation or harassment and ensure that student evaluations are based solely on merit. Transparency implies that the university must provide clear information regarding grading criteria, job recruitment, and resource access. Prohibitions against discrimination are centralized, covering race, nationality, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, and social status. Any form of direct or indirect discrimination is punishable proportional to its severity. Finally, the principle of loyalty mandates that members act in the interest of the university, avoiding actions that discredit the institution or competing with its educational and research programs.
Professional Norms for Teaching and Research Activities
Specific norms of deontology apply to academic and research staff. In research, personnel are obligated to report only real data obtained through their own experiments, simulations, or analytical reasoning. They are forbidden from sabotaging the work of others through the destruction of equipment or blocking access to research spaces. Intellectual property must be protected, and all individuals who contributed to a work must be mentioned in scientific results. Scientific ethics also demand compliance with human subject protections and animal welfare legislation. In teaching, faculty must remain objective during evaluations, following pre-established criteria and avoiding any conflict of interest, such as assessing a spouse or a relative up to the degree.
Communication and publication norms require the explicit consent of all authors before disseminating results or hypotheses. It is strictly forbidden to use a leadership position to claim authorship on a subordinate's publication or to obtain material benefits for oneself or family members from projects coordinated by subordinates. For students and doctoral candidates, the norms emphasize the production of original work for evaluations and final theses, alongside the strict avoidance of plagiarism. All community members are encouraged to report ethical violations to the University Ethics Commission as a means of improving the academic climate.
Regulations on Conflicts of Interest and Incompatibilities
A conflict of interest occurs when a community member’s personal interests override their professional duties. Specifically, it is prohibited for spouses or relatives up to the degree of kinship to occupy positions where one is in a direct line of authority, control, or evaluation over the other. This extends to participation in doctoral juries or recruitment committees. Kinship is defined by blood: parents and children are the degree, grandparents and siblings are the degree, and uncles or nephews are the degree. Affinity (in-laws) follows the same degree structure for the spouse’s family.
Incompatibilities are defined as the concurrent holding of certain leadership roles. A person cannot simultaneously serve as Rector, Pro-rector, Dean, or Head of Department while also serving as a Minister, Mayor, or a leader in a public institution. If an incompatibility is identified, the individual has days to resolve the situation, often through suspension from one role. In cases of conflict of interest, the involved party must notify their superior immediately within days, and a substitute with similar experience must be appointed to handle the specific task. For collective decisions, the individual in conflict must recuse themselves from voting, and their presence is not counted toward the result.
Classifications of Ethical Deviations and Infractions
Infractions are categorized by the area of activity they affect. In teaching and research, deviations include fabrication or falsification of experimental data, plagiarism, and the deliberate sabotage of others' research materials. In communication and publication, violations include adding authors without their consent, omitting research funding sources, and providing false information in grant applications. Managerial deviations include the abuse of authority to gain authorship or salary from subordinate projects and the obstruction of the Ethics Commission’s investigations. Violations of human dignity involve any behavior that infringes upon the rights of students or the prestige of the profession, such as physical aggression or the solicitation of bribes.
For students, the code identifies specific deviations such as fraud during exams, using materials not produced by themselves, or failing to disclose a kinship relationship with an evaluator. These acts are considered grave because they compromise the integrity of the educational evaluation process. Personal ethics also require that members refrain from publishing compromising materials or videos online that could harm the university’s reputation.
Disciplinary Sanctions and Institutional Measures
Sanctions are tailored to the status of the individual and the severity of the act. For teaching and research staff, penalties include written warnings, withdrawal of published works, dismissal from leadership positions, or the suspension of the right to apply for higher positions for a period of to years. In extreme cases, the university may dismiss the individual from their teaching position or revoke their PhD title or status as a doctoral coordinator. For students, sanctions range from written warnings and cancellation of exam results to expulsion (with or without the right to re-enroll) and the loss of scholarships or dormitory residency rights.
Beyond individual sanctions, the Ministry of Education can impose institutional measures if the university fails to uphold ethical standards. These measures include public warnings to the university, the suspension of the right to organize doctoral defenses for to years, and the withdrawal of accreditation for specific doctoral fields. For severe systemic failures, the Ministry may monitor the university for months to year, dissolve leadership structures (such as faculty councils), or even propose the reorganization or dissolution of the institution itself. Individuals sanctioned for serious ethical breaches are permanently barred from holding leadership positions within the university.
Procedures for Reporting and Final Provisions
The University Ethics Commission is responsible for verifying all reports of ethical violations. Any person may file a complaint, which must be submitted in writing or online and registered officially. To be admissible, a complaint must include the accuser's identification and signature, as well as a reasoned argument supported by verifiable evidence. While identity is generally required, anonymous complaints are accepted specifically for cases of sexual harassment or moral harassment. If an investigation reveals criminal elements, such as sexual aggression or abuse of office, the commission must immediately notify university leadership to involve criminal prosecutors.
Members of the academic community are held disciplinarily liable for any acts committed inside or outside the university that damage the honor and prestige of the profession. This Code is subject to periodic review and must be approved by the University Senate following a consultative vote from the Administrative Council. The current version of the Code was finalized and approved in the Senate session on , signed by the Senate President, Prof. univ. dr. Vasile Vîntu, and the Rector, Prof. univ. dr. Gerard Jităreanu.