Conflict of interest & conflict of commitment
A critical element of the university's strategy for reducing the incidence and impact of conflicts of interest and promoting transparency is the required completion of disclosure forms for conflict of interest and external professional activities.
These forms must be submitted biennially by all university members governed by the Collective Agreement. Additionally, an update for research purposes form must be submitted prior to the commencement of any new research project.
Information on conflict of interest and conflict of commitment (external professional activities) can be found in Articles 48 and 49 of the Collective Agreement.
Conflict of interest
Conflicts of Interest are defined as real, perceived or potential situations in which an impartial observer might reasonably question whether actions or decisions taken by the Member on behalf of the University are influenced by considerations of private interest. In the research context, a Conflict of Interest includes a situation where financial or other personal considerations may compromise, or have the appearance of compromising, an investigator’s professional judgment in conducting or reporting research.
Conflict of commitment
External professional activity includes any activity whether paid or unpaid, which employs the Member’s professional skill or arises out of their academic status, whether or not the activity is academic in nature or discipline-related.