Trainer Code of Ethics and Conduct Policy

Trainer Code of Ethics and Conduct Policy

Greece Lean Six Sigma (GLSS)
Professional Standards for Educational Integrity and Excellence

Effective Date: 02.05.2024
Last Review: 02.05.2025
Version: 1.1
Policy Owner: Victoria Tsolidou, Founder & Managing Director
Status: Public Governance Document

1. Purpose

At Greece Lean Six Sigma (GLSS), trainers, facilitators, assessors, and examiners are entrusted with a critical role:
they safeguard the credibility of learning, the fairness of assessment, and the integrity of certification outcomes.

This Trainer Code of Ethics and Conduct Policy defines the professional, ethical, and instructional standards expected of all individuals delivering GLSS training or assessment activities.

The objectives of this Code are to ensure:

  • Consistent, high-quality learner experience across all delivery modes
  • Ethical, impartial, and transparent training and assessment practices
  • Protection of learners’ dignity, data, and rights
  • Alignment with international education and certification standards
  • Trust in GLSS credentials across industries and sectors

2. Scope of Application

This policy applies to all individuals acting in a training or assessment role on behalf of Greece Lean Six Sigma, including:

  • Internal trainers and facilitators
  • External or subcontracted trainers
  • Guest lecturers and subject-matter experts
  • Assessors, project reviewers, examiners, and invigilators

It applies across all delivery formats, including:

  • In-person training
  • Live online training
  • Blended and asynchronous learning
  • Project-based certification and assessment activities

3. Ethical Foundations and Standards Alignment

This Code is aligned with and supports:

  • ISO 21001:2018 – Educational Organizations Management Systems
  • ISO 29993:2017 – Learning Services outside formal education
  • ISO/IEC 17024 – Conformity assessment of persons
  • ISO/IEC 27701 & GDPR – Privacy and personal data protection
  • ISO 26000 – Social responsibility
  • GLSS Code of Ethics, Conflict of Interest Policy, and Whistleblowing Policy

4. Trainer Conduct Standards

All GLSS trainers and assessors shall comply with the following principles.

4.1 Integrity and Honesty

Trainers must:

  • Represent qualifications, experience, and expertise truthfully
  • Avoid exaggeration of outcomes, guarantees, or certification claims
  • Disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest immediately
  • Uphold the integrity of examinations, assessments, and certification decisions
  • Refrain from offering private advantages, preferential treatment, or informal guarantees

4.2 Professionalism and Conduct

Trainers must:

  • Be prepared, punctual, and reliable for all training obligations
  • Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor (online and in-person)
  • Use respectful, neutral, and professional language at all times
  • Avoid any behavior that may be perceived as intimidating, offensive, discriminatory, or inappropriate

4.3 Respect for Learners and Inclusion

Trainers must:

  • Foster a psychologically safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment
  • Respect diversity of background, culture, gender, neurodiversity, and learning style
  • Apply GLSS policies on Equality, Neurodiversity, and Accessibility
  • Never humiliate, belittle, or publicly single out learners
  • Handle sensitive discussions with empathy and professionalism

4.4 Confidentiality and Privacy

Trainers must:

  • Treat all learner data, assessment results, and personal disclosures as confidential
  • Access and process personal data only through authorized GLSS systems
  • Comply fully with GDPR, ISO/IEC 27701, and internal data protection rules
  • Never retain learner data on personal devices or external platforms
  • Refrain from sharing learner information without lawful authorization

4.5 Intellectual Property and Academic Integrity

Trainers must:

  • Use only GLSS-approved, licensed, or properly attributed materials
  • Respect copyrights, trademarks, and proprietary content
  • Avoid unauthorized copying, recording, or redistribution of training materials
  • Clearly distinguish between GLSS material and external references
  • Promote academic honesty and prevent plagiarism

4.6 Fairness and Impartiality in Assessment

Trainers acting as assessors or examiners must:

  • Evaluate learners objectively, consistently, and based on defined criteria
  • Avoid bias, favoritism, or personal influence
  • Apply assessment rules uniformly across all candidates
  • Provide timely, evidence-based, and constructive feedback
  • Report suspected misconduct, cheating, or plagiarism through formal channels

4.7 Continuous Professional Development

Trainers must:

  • Maintain up-to-date technical and methodological competence
  • Participate in GLSS calibration, standardization, and trainer development activities
  • Align delivery with approved curricula and learning outcomes
  • Contribute feedback for continuous improvement of training programs

5. Reporting Ethical Concerns

Trainers are obligated to report:

  • Ethical breaches
  • Assessment irregularities
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Data protection incidents
  • Behavior that may compromise certification integrity

Reports may be submitted confidentially in accordance with the GLSS Whistleblowing Policy.

6. Breaches and Disciplinary Measures

Any breach of this Code will be reviewed by the Academic Director and/or Ethics & Governance Function.

Depending on severity and impact, actions may include:

  • Formal warning (verbal or written)
  • Mandatory retraining or supervision
  • Temporary suspension from assignments
  • Termination of trainer agreement
  • Notification to certification partners or authorities, where required

Serious breaches related to fraud, bias, data misuse, or examination integrity are treated as critical violations.

7. Acknowledgment and Acceptance

All trainers must:

  • Sign the Trainer Agreement & Code of Ethics Acknowledgment prior to engagement
  • Confirm understanding and acceptance of this policy
  • Review updates annually or upon notification
  • Seek guidance when ethical uncertainty arises

Failure to acknowledge this Code may result in ineligibility to deliver GLSS programs.

8. Review and Governance

This policy is:

  • Reviewed annually as part of the GLSS Management Review
  • Updated to reflect regulatory, accreditation, or operational changes
  • Published as part of the GLSS Governance & Compliance framework

Issued by:
Victoria Tsolidou
Founder & Managing Director
Greece Lean Six Sigma