• “Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is the right thing to do.” — Potter Stewart

  • “Professionalism is not about the job you do; it’s about how you do the job.” — Anonymous

For me, ethics are essential for a lecturer as they define the critical boundary between students and educators. A lecturer must uphold high standards of Integrity, Synergy, Excellence, and Sustainability (ISES). ISES is crucial not only in teaching but also in research. Without it, research quality may suffer, potentially hindering national progress and leading to a lack of excellence. In a fast-paced and competitive environment, both within academia and beyond, maintaining these ethical standards is key to ensuring ongoing success and advancement.

Manners and ethics play a crucial role in the academic ecosystem by shaping student trust, performance, and the credibility of lecturers. When lecturers uphold high ethical standards and exhibit proper manners, they build trust and respect with students, which can enhance student engagement and performance. This ethical behavior also bolsters the lecturer’s credibility, reinforcing their reputation as a reliable and trustworthy educator. Consequently, strong ethical principles contribute to a positive academic environment, fostering both student success and institutional integrity.

One major challenge for lecturers is to engage effectively with students while consistently upholding ethical standards. Another key challenge is to ensure that the research conducted adheres to high standards of integrity, producing trustworthy and credible results. Another significant challenge is fostering a healthy level of competition within academia, which can be difficult to achieve.

To address these challenges, lecturers can implement several strategies. Engaging effectively with students while upholding ethical standards involves setting clear boundaries and maintaining professionalism, supported by structured feedback systems and training on ethical practices. Ensuring research integrity requires adherence to established guidelines, transparency in methodologies, and fostering a culture of honesty through peer reviews and regular audits. To foster healthy academic competition, lecturers can encourage both collaboration and competition, establish fair evaluation criteria, provide mentorship, and recognize achievements. By adopting these approaches, lecturers can effectively navigate the challenges of student engagement, research integrity, and academic competition, thereby contributing to a more ethical and dynamic academic environment.

Dr. Suzarina is a great Dr. She always be patient and willing to answer any questions whenever students have any problem or curious. I learnt a lot from her not only the math knowledge, but the way she treat her professionalism and her students.

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Student

Good lecture and maintained her professionalism

Faculty of Electrical Engineering Student

Dr. Suzarina is very good and professional in teaching and explaining.

Faculty of Civil Engineering Student