Whistleblowing

As a public-sector organisation and education institution, ITE is committed to maintaining high standards of integrity, discipline and accountability.  ITE will ensure that its activities are conducted in compliance with laws, regulations, policies and standards and that resources are used responsibly. 

The Whistleblowing channel provides a mechanism for the public, ITE staff and students to report in confidence on actual or suspected wrongful practices, misconduct or unethical behaviours by ITE staff.

Wrongful practices, misconduct or unethical behaviours include mismanagement or misuse of resources or inappropriate conduct and behaviours which are not in line with the Public Service and ITE Codes of Conduct. The following are some examples of wrongful practices, misconduct or unethical behaviours that are reportable:

• Failure to observe a legal obligation;

• Miscarriage of justice;

• Endangering the health or safety of persons or the environment;

• Financial and non-financial administrative malpractice, for example, not observing proper procedures for tendering;

• Fraud or deliberately including false or incorrect information in the preparation, evaluation, review, audit of financial accounts and records;

• Academic or professional malpractice, for example, violation of intellectual property rights or displaying a lack of integrity by plagiarising the research of others or lack of integrity in assessment and examination duties;

• Inappropriate conduct or unethical behaviour, which includes, but not limited to, inappropriate staff-student interactions, workplace harassment (such as unwelcomed physical contact; offensive, insulting or abusive language; psychological threats of any kind; abuse of authority; sexual harassment; discriminatory conduct), and

• Wilful suppression or concealment of any relevant information relating to wrongful practices.

Confidentiality

All disclosures will be treated with utmost confidence, and every effort will be made to not reveal the identity of the whistleblowers, to the extent feasible and permissible under the law. We strongly encourage the whistleblowers to provide their names and contact information to facilitate clarification (where necessary) for more effective and expeditious investigation of the complaint.

Exceptional circumstances under which information provided by whistleblowers may need to be disclosed to a third party (outside of ITE) include:

• Where ITE is under a legal obligation to disclose the information provided;

• Where the information is already in the public domain;

• Where the information is given on a strictly confidential basis to legal/auditing or other professionals for the purposes of obtaining professional advice/ assistance; and

• Where the information is given to the Police or other authorities for criminal investigation.

In the event ITE is faced with a circumstance not covered by the above, and where a  whistleblower’s identity is to be revealed, ITE will endeavour to discuss with the whistleblower first.

Additional information and/or further clarification may be sought from whistleblowers during the investigation. In order not to jeopardise the investigation, whistleblowers are expected to keep the disclosure and all details pertaining to it strictly confidential.

Submission of Whistleblowing Report

Whistleblowers may report actual or suspected wrongful practices, misconduct or unethical behaviours by ITE staff through the online Whistleblowing Form via the link below with details of the alleged wrongdoing.