The Globethics South Asia Centre, Bangalore, in collaboration with the Staff Development Centre and the Centre for International Affairs of the University of Vavuniya, conducted a two-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) titled “Ethics and Values for Teaching Professionals and Administrators: Ethics Model of Excellence Framework”, held at the Project Management Hall (PMH 1) on 14th and 15th November 2025 from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
The programme featured esteemed resource persons including Prof. V. Rajula, South Asia Regional Manager, Globethics, Bangalore; Dr. K. Shailaja Rao, FDP Facilitator, Aditya University, Andhra Pradesh; and Dr. S. Senthilnathan, Programme Director, UGC–Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre and Professor of Educational Technology, Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu. This workshop Designed to empower faculty members to integrate ethics into teaching, research, administration, and policy engagement, the FDP aimed to promote transformative ethical leadership and uphold high ethical standards within the academic community.
Day 1 commenced with an inauguration and introductory remarks by Mr. G.R.M. Gamlath Director, Staff development Centre followed by addresses from Dr. K. Kalainathan Director
Centre for International Affairs addressed the gathering and highlighted the relevance of ethics in higher education and Senior Prof. A. Atputharajah Vice chancellor, University of Vavuniya delivered the Special Address, emphasizing the need for ethical conduct and professionalism in academia..
The morning session was conducted by Dr. Shailaja Rao and Prof. V. Rajula on the topic “Understanding the Ethical Purpose of Educational Excellence vs Institutional Excellence.” In this session, the facilitators clearly explained the basic ideas of ethics in higher education and why ethics is important for teachers and administrators. Participants learned about different ethical foundations and ethical dimensions, and how these influence daily decisions in teaching and administrative work. The facilitators explained how ethical alignment—matching personal values with institutional values—helps create a trustworthy and responsible academic environment. They also highlighted the role of leadership, showing how leaders should guide others by practicing honesty, fairness, and responsibility. The session ended with examples of global best practices, showing how universities around the world use ethical frameworks to improve their reputation and academic standards.
The second session continued with a practical focus on “Building high-performing ethical teams in higher education”. Participants learned the features of an ethical team, such as good communication, shared values, responsibility, and teamwork. The facilitators explained how to set ethical goals and how proper delegation can support ethical behaviour in the workplace. They also discussed common challenges faced by teams, such as misunderstandings, conflict, or pressure, and offered solutions to overcome these issues. Real-life examples were used to help participants understand how ethics can guide daily work in departments and administrative units.
Day 2 Dr. S. Senthilnathan Programme Director, UGC- Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre and Professor, Department of Educational Technology, Bharathidasan university Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India conducted the session on the Model Code of Educator Ethics, followed by an activity-based exploration of the PERMA Profiler, and concluded with a discussion on issues, challenges, and ethical dilemmas in higher education.
The evening session was conducted by Dr. Shailaja Rao on the topic “Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Higher Education.” In this session, participants learned that ethical dilemmas in universities act like mirrors—they show who we are and what values we uphold. Dr. Rao explained that countries like India and Sri Lanka, with their long and rich educational history from Nalanda to Anuradhapura, should set an example by promoting integrity, fairness, and accountability in higher education. She reminded the participants that the true greatness of a university is not measured only by its buildings or rankings, but by the ethical strength and character of its people.
The programme ended with participant reflections and concluding remarks, highlighting the effectiveness of the workshop in strengthening ethical awareness and leadership among the academic community.
