(A Research on Ethical Emphasis on Mission and Vision Expressions of Foundation Universities Web Pages)

Abstract

Purpose – The aim of this research is to analyze the mission and vision statements of the foundation universities and to determine which headings of ethics are collected in general, to determine which ethical emphasis they adopt and how often. Design/methodology/approach – The sample of the study was determined according to the purposeful (criterion sampling) technique used in qualitative research methods. A total of 69 foundation universities, which provide undergraduate education, declare their mission-vision statements separately, are currently in education and training activities and have a web page included in the study. The primary data of the research was obtained from the documents on the official websites of foundation universities between 23-27 September 2019. The documents were analyzed, evaluated under the themes and categories, and ethical highlights were analyzed. Findings – Ethical emphasis expressions frequently used according to the research result; academic freedom and autonomy, academic honesty, respect, impartiality and merit, the priority of public interest and the interests of the institution, team orientation, compliance with rules, laws and regulations, responsibility and accountability, openness to innovation, responsibility to society and student focus. Within the scope of 11 themes; 280 ethical emphasis was found in the mission, and 130 ethical emphasis in vision. Discussion – According to the findings obtained, the most ethical emphasis in the mission statements of the universities are as follows; student orientation (94), responsibility towards society (77) and openness to innovation (43). The most important ethical emphasis in vision statements is openness to innovation (40). Responsibility towards the society (36), student orientation (34) follows. To the extent ethical codes are established and processed, behaviors and practices that comply with ethical principles occur. For this reason, universities should include ethical emphasis determined in YÖK Ethical Behavior Principles in their mission and vision statements, while those who take part should increase their emphasis.