Conference: Academic Ethics in a Changing Society Held at MRU - MRU
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17 October, 2016
Conference: Academic Ethics in a Changing Society Held at MRU

October 14th, 2016, about 60 academic community members from Lithuania and representatives from Lithuania's Ethics Teachers' Association, the Research Council of Lithuania and other groups participated in a conference, "Academic Ethics in a Changing Society," held at Mykolas Romeris University (MRU). This conference was not only for decision-makers, but also for academics and others interested in academic ethics. Other groups that had representatives at the conference included the National Anti-Corruption Association, Lithuania's Academic Publishers' Assn, Office of Ombudsman for Academic Ethics and Procedures and Lithuania's "Transparency International" chapter. They all met to also commemorate Global Ethics Day. Participants, presenting papers, emphasized society's connection with academic ethics and culture and exchanged experiences of how institutions of higher learning deal with academic "corruption." They drew attention to the need to draw strict lines and draft presentation of a gift policy in institutions of higher ed. Participants also presented ethical aspects of doctoral students' participation in internet social networks. There was a discussion about how social technologies can help with assuring adherence to ethics. At the end of the conference, MRU Management Institute Assoc. Prof. Dr. Loreta Tauginienė presented results of conference participants' questionnaires, "What Does Academic Ethics Mean to You?" She highlighted values relevant for the academic community today - conscientiousness and respect, which are undoubtedly proof of responsible (ethical) behaviour in a changing society. The conference was organized by Academic Ethics Centre researcher Assoc. Prof. Tauginienė (a member of MRU LAB's Lifelong Learning Laboratory); MRU Public Law Institute Lecturer Dr. Jolanta Bieliauskaitė (member of MRU LAB's Values Laboratory); MRU's Institute of Educational Sciences and Social Work Lecturer Inga Gaižauskaitė (member of MRU LAB's Sociological Research Laboratory); and MRU Institute of Educational Sciences and Social Work Lecturer Dr. Natalija Valavičienė (member of MRU LAB's Sociological Research Laboratory). MRU Business and Media School Public Relations Management Studies programme Master's Degree student Laura Lukošienė was instrumental in helping with conference information dissemination.