A lack of clear procedures and guidance for undertaking fieldwork for one’s study can result in unethical practices and degrade the experience of both students and their partners.
It is important that any student undertaking fieldwork, including research, training placements, and/or internships as part of their curriculum, be knowledgeable and mindful of challenges for such work and follow appropriate procedures to assist in ensuring the most beneficial and ethical experience for allstakeholders.The following guidelines developed for students, by students, through an extensive research process, have been proposed as a reference for students to engage in the ethical conduct of fieldwork.
Foundational Principles
- Academic Accountability and Social Responsibility
- Respect and Protection
- Conduct and Integrity
- Competence
These principles provide an ethos for conducting ethical fieldwork and should be applied across all stages of student engagement. For their application, the guidelines have been developed into three chronological categories of engagement: prior to, during, and after fieldwork. There should always be a level of responsibility held by the student’s home institution to ensure that the academic engagement is ethical and in the best interest of the students as well as the individuals, communities and organisations with whom they interact.
Full Guidelines Attached: