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ETHICAL CHANNEL


CODE OF ETHICS OF REY JUAN CARLOS UNIVERSITY


The Rey Juan Carlos University, aware of its responsibility to society, has promoted the creation of its Ethical code.

The Code of Ethics, drawn up from a participatory process and approved by the Governing Council of the University at its meeting on September 27, 2019, includes the set of principles that should guide the conduct and behavior of all members of the university community. It will guide its ethical behavior towards the rest of the social actors, centers or entities that collaborate with the university in the development of its activities.

The monitoring of this code is carried out through the Ethics Committee of the Rey Juan Carlos University, which also guarantees its dissemination to all members of the university community to improve their knowledge. Its actions are coordinated with the bodies that by law have recognized responsibilities in disciplinary matters, as well as with the rest of the actions that, in the field of university social responsibility, are carried out by the University.

Its structure, composition and operating rules are regulated through a regulation approved by the Governing Council, following a report from the Social Council.


ETHICAL CHANNEL OF REY JUAN CARLOS UNIVERSITY


The art. 7 and Annex II of the Internal Regime Regulations of the Ethics Committee of the Rey Juan Carlos University regulate the existence and operation of an Ethics Channel, as an internal instrument intended to facilitate compliance with the Code of Ethics through a double path: a) on the one hand, promoting its dissemination among the University Community and among those interested in the University; b) and on the other, establishing mechanisms for reporting illegal conduct or conduct contrary to the principles expressed in the code itself.

The Ethics Channel constitutes a confidential channel that the Rey Juan Carlos University makes available to the members of the University Community and any interest group related to it to:

  • Report breaches of the Code of Ethics, its implementing regulations, or general legislation. For this, a confidential electronic procedure has been implemented in the electronic headquarters of the Rey Juan Carlos University, which can be accessed through the following link: Complaints procedure
  • Raise queries and/or doubts in relation to the application of the Code of Ethics and its implementing regulations. Also available at the electronic headquarters through the following link: Queries, proposals and complaints

The URJC Ethics Channel can be accessed at the web address: https://sede.urjc.es/web/guest/canal-etico


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ETHICAL CHANNEL

Who is part of the Ethics Committee?

By virtue of art. 8 of the Internal Regulations of the Ethics Committee of the Rey Juan Carlos University, the Ethics Committee will be made up of the following members:

a) The Vice Chancellor with competences in matters of Ethics, or person delegated, who will act as President and will have the status of ex officio member.

b) A member appointed by each Faculty or School Board.

c) A representative of the workers designated by the bodies of unitary representation of the Teaching and Research Staff and the Administration and Services Staff.

d) A student appointed by the Student Council.

e) A representative of the Social Council, designated in the manner established by the Law of Social Councils of the Community of Madrid.

f) Five external experts, of which one will belong to another ethics committee and another will be the University Ombudsman of another university.

g) A member of the Office of the Vice Chancellor with competences in matters of Ethics, with voice but no vote, who will act as Secretary and who will be designated by the Vice Chancellor with competences in this area.

And under art. 17 of said norm, in their performance they must observe the duties of secrecy and professional secrecy with respect to the information to which they have accessed in the exercise of their functions.

Are the complaints made through the Ethics Channel confidential?

Yes, they must be formulated through the procedure established in the electronic headquarters and in their processing the necessary measures will be adopted to preserve the identity and guarantee the confidentiality of the personal data corresponding to the persons affected by the information provided in the complaint, especially the complainant information.

Should I report breaches of the Code of Ethics despite not being directly affected?

Despite the fact that there is no legally established obligation, ethics and regulatory compliance is a key pillar for the Rey Juan Carlos University, Therefore, it is important to detect and remedy possible irregular behaviors and events. It is the responsibility of all the members of the University Community to avoid damage to the Institution and to the rest of the members that make up the Community, thus contributing to the construction of a true ethical culture.

What processing follow the reports, complaints and queries or proposals?

Annex I of the Internal Regulations of the Ethics Committee of the Rey Juan Carlos University contains the regulation of the standard work procedures of the Ethics Committee.

In short, the presentation of the complaint will lead to the processing of a file whose instruction is attributed to a Study and Analysis Commission created ad hoc. This Commission, with the study of the documentation provided by the secretariat of the Ethics Committee, will carry out all the necessary actions for the determination, knowledge and verification of the facts included in the complaint, and will send a notification to the accused informing him of the agreement to start the procedure, guaranteeing at all times the confidentiality of the complainant. During the investigation, the interested parties may adduce allegations and provide any means of evidence admissible in Law to prove the alleged facts.

The Study and Analysis Commission, prior to the hearing process, will prepare a final report that will be transferred to the Permanent Commission, which will immediately submit it to the Plenary of the Ethics Committee for its study and final resolution. The resolution of the Plenary of the Ethics Committee, which will be motivated, will put an end to the procedure and may agree to the suspension of the complaint procedure, the filing of the proceedings or the disapproval, qualifying in the latter case the breach of the Code of Ethics as scarcely relevant, relevant or very relevant and transferring the resolution, if applicable, to the University bodies that by law have recognized powers in disciplinary matters, so that they can act as appropriate in Law.

For its part, complaints, proposals and inquiries received by the Ethics Committee will lead to the preparation of a non-binding final report by the Study and Analysis Commissions, which will be forwarded to the Permanent Commission for resolution as appropriate in Law. The Standing Committee will submit the proposals received to the Plenary Session of the Ethics Committee so that, during the second ordinary semi-annual session held each year, it can agree on whether or not they are included in the Update and Improvement Proposals Report. The Ethics Committee will notify the proponents of the result, and will publish the content of the proposals on the Code of Ethics website, as well as the decision taken with respect to them.

The accepted proposals will be sent to the Governing Council through the Update and Improvement Proposals Report, for study and approval, if applicable. The resolution that puts an end to the procedure will be notified to the interested parties by electronic means and published on the University's Transparency Portal.