Policy against bribery and corruption: Section A
A. Background and purpose
- The University is committed to ensuring that high standards of integrity apply in all of its areas of operation and that all of its business is conducted in an honest and transparent manner. As an educational establishment and a charity deriving a significant proportion of its income from public funds, benefactions and charitable organisations, the University is concerned to protect itself and its funders, donors, employees and students from the detriment associated with Bribery, other corrupt activity and Fraud. It is therefore committed to preventing Bribery and Fraud by Staff and any third party performing services for or on behalf of the University.
- The University recognises that the risk of Bribery and Fraud will arise in various contexts and will seek to advise, inform and/or train its employees appropriately to assess the risk of Bribery and Fraud being practised and implement practices which reduce the risk of it occurring or being undetected where existing processes are not already in place.
- The Registrary shall oversee the implementation of this policy, provide advice as necessary, and monitor and report to the Audit Committee on breaches of policy, and the general application of the Policy.
The purpose of this Policy is to assist those working for or on behalf of the University by:
4.1. setting out their responsibilities in observing and upholding the University's position on Bribery and Fraud; and
4.2. providing information and guidance on how to recognise and deal with Bribery and Fraud issues.
- Bribery and Fraud are punishable for individuals by up to ten years' imprisonment. If the University is found to have taken part in corruption it could face an unlimited fine, be excluded from tendering for public contracts or research funding and face damage to its reputation. The University therefore takes its legal responsibilities very seriously.
- This Policy has been approved by the University Council.