Code of Professional Conduct for IMA Chartered Mathematicians and IMA Chartered Scientists
The Professional Affairs Committee has issued a Code of Conduct to guide IMA Chartered Mathematicians and IMA Chartered Scientists through their professional lives. The Committee agreed that the Code should be concise and this aim has been achieved by offering directional principles on common issues.
The Code is consistent with those issued by comparable institutions. A large number of codes of other professional bodies were studied before this Code was written. We believe that IMA Chartered Mathematicians and IMA Chartered Scientists who belong to more than one institution should not find themselves bound by conflicting requirements.
Rosalind Azouzi
Executive Director
Introduction
The rules of conduct for Chartered Mathematicians and Chartered Scientists, hereafter referred to as Chartered Members, stated herein are made by the Council in line with the requirements of the Institute’s Royal Charter. They were formally approved by the Council in March 2018. A code of professional conduct designed to cover all eventualities must necessarily be posed in general terms expressing broad ethical principles. The rules proposed indicate the manner in which Chartered Members are required to conduct themselves in a number of frequently-occurring situations. In other situations, Chartered Members are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the principle that, in any conflict between an individual’s personal interest or the interests of an employer or sponsor and fair and honest dealing with members of the public, duty to the public must prevail.
In these rules “employer” includes any client for whom a Chartered Member may work in any capacity.
The public interest
- A Chartered Member shall in professional practice have regard to protection of the public interest as determined by civil legislation.
- A Chartered Member in the position of an employer, in addition to meeting the relevant regulations and standards, shall set fair and reasonable terms and conditions of employment.
The profession
- A Chartered Member shall act in a manner worthy of the honour and interests of the profession of mathematician and / or scientist and of the Institute.
- A Chartered Member shall not recklessly or maliciously injure or attempt to injure, whether directly or indirectly, the professional reputation, prospects, or business of the Institute, or other members, or members of other professions.
- A Chartered Member should seek to improve professional standards through participation in their development, use and enforcement.
- A Chartered Member called upon to give a professional opinion shall give an opinion that is objective and reliable, shall have sought authorisation where this is appropriate, and have due regard to the likely consequences of any such statement.
Competence and integrity
- A Chartered Member shall take all reasonable steps to maintain and upgrade professional competence in areas relevant to the chosen field(s) of activity.
- A Chartered Member shall only undertake service where as a mathematician, the required level of competence is possessed.
- A Chartered Member shall accept professional responsibility for personal work and for the work of subordinates done under direction, seeking always to conform to recognised good practice including quality standards.
- A Chartered Member shall act in a professional and ethical manner in their employment, respecting confidentiality and intellectual property rights.
- A Chartered Member should do all in their power to ensure that their professional activities do not put the health and safety of others at risk.
- A Chartered Member will never engage in corrupt practice.
Unprofessional conduct
In cases where a member of the IMA or a member of the public believes that a Chartered Member has been guilty of unprofessional or inappropriate conduct as determined by the Codes of Conduct, that person should report the matter in confidence, to the Executive Director, who will process this complaint in accordance with the ‘IMA Disciplinary Procedure for Advanced and Chartered Members’.
March 2018