Ethics and Human Values

Unit One: General Frameworks

Dear students, have you ever thought, in the early stages of your university life, about
the following questions:

1. Why do students enroll in university education? Why did you enroll in it?

2. What do students expect to gain from enrolling in university? Will the effect be on them
only or on the community as a whole? How?

3. What specialization did you choose? Why did you choose this specialization ?What is its
significance to you? Is it important to your community? How?

4. What is your perception of values, and what is your perception of ethics?

5. Do values and ethics have anything to do with your life in the university and your life in
society? Are ethics important in general? How?

6. Do values and ethics have anything to do with your major? In other words, is it important
in your field of specialization? What do we mean by professional ethics?

7. Why do you think the word "human" was added to the title of this course?

There are many questions that are posed by individuals, and there are others that you may have,
that are primarily related to university education and its intended goals. The answers to these
questions are not easy, and no one can give you satisfactory answers but yourself, after listening
to the opinions of others. Hence, it is necessary to think about these questions carefully so that
you are aware of your main objectives. Any successful action must be built on a clear and a
specific goal .We set goals and then strive to achieve them. Real success is based on thinking and
planning, not on dependent random behavior.

So what are your plans now that you enrolled in university?

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 Think and reflect: Any successful act must be built on a clear and a specific goal. What does
this statement mean to you? Do you agree? Give a vivid example of this.

The main objective of this unit is to motivate you to think about the three important or four years
(or more) that you will spend at university, and to provide you with some of the views expressed
about the significance of these years to you personally, to your family, your community and
humanity at large. Bearing in mind that these years are among the most significant ones in your
life and their effect on your personalities is expected to be tremendous: scientifically,
culturally, psychologically, socially and mentally. Moreover, this unit aims to show the value
and moral dimension of what you study on the one hand, and the way you deal with the
challenges you face, your interactions with your peers and the university campus in which you
spend an important time of your life on the other hand.

Reflection: What do you most seek to achieve at university? Knowledge? Cultural

You realize that there is a great demand for university education in our society. Most, if not all,
students who successfully complete high school wish to enroll in university. This is a positive
thing as education is a means of obtaining specialized knowledge in various fields, and acquiring
skills that are important for succeeding in studies and work after graduation. It is also the means
to build a personality that is based on good manners, appropriate behavior, and sound values.
Education is also the pillar of progress and prosperity for society and humanity, and the means to
a better life. One cannot imagine a society progressing and prospering as desired if the
percentage of illiteracy is high, and if its members do not commit to rules and regulations,
positive customs, a sense of belonging to their community and others and protecting
the environment. The progress and prosperity of societies comes from an education that is based
on knowledge, and from the civilized behavior that accompanies it .

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Education alone does not build successful societies. This is done when knowledge is combined
with ethics and values embodied in the behavior of individuals. Then, and only then, will nations
advance and achieve the desired prosperity. Knowledge that comes through education, including
university education, is one of the most important levers of economy, hence the concept of the
“knowledge economy”.

Therefore, through enrolling in university, striving towards education and the acquisition of
knowledge, and your embodiment of appropriate ethics and civilized behavior, you will
contribute in the elevation and progress of society, and in pushing the wheel of knowledge
economy. However, if you fail in the pursuit of knowledge and adherence to laws, customs and
values, the progress of society will decline and its problems and challenges will intensify.

Discuss: Is the progress of society really affected by the success or failure of an individual in
achieving his/her goals in university or in life? Give examples, after searching in the library
or on the Internet, of people who have changed their societies. What are the most important
elements of their success?

There is no doubt that you were pleased to have obtained a university seat, especially those of
you who obtained the majors they desired. More so because you were accepted into the
University of Jordan, which is the oldest and most prestigious university in the Kingdom, the
“mother” university as we call it in Arabic. It was recently ranked five-star in the international
“QS” classification, and in most world rankings, it ranked first nationally.

It is your university, and the first thing that is required of you is to be acquainted with it more
closely. How many students are enrolled? How many professors does it have? How many
faculties does it contain, and what are they? How many students have graduated? Who are its
most important alumni? How large is it? What are its most important facilities and
landmarks? What are the most popular specializations? What are the most important activities
available to students? How can you have the opportunity to know your colleagues? How should
you treat them? What are the international exchange opportunities available for students? How
many branches does the university have?

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 Branches of the Space Number of Number of faculty Number of students
university in Jordan Faculties members

(1) in Aqaba which 1200 20 1700 50 thousand

There are many interesting information about the university. Take the university's title, for
example. Why was the Jordanian of university called the "mother”? Is it because it is the first
university that was established in the Kingdom (in 1962)? Or is it because, over the past years, it
has embraced and graduated more than 300,000 students, and now is home to about 50
thousand? Or is it because it has contributed through its professors, graduates and employees to
the building and development of many national universities and institutions. Most of the
presidents who established Jordanian universities were from the University of Jordan, in addition
to many members of royal committees that planned and executed the establishment of these
universities. Many prime ministers, ministers, senior state officials, heads of many vital
institutions, judges, extinguished individuals in many professions in the public and private
sectors, poets, writers, journalists, artists and engineers, are among the University of Jordan
graduates. Now you have joined the journey, and will be a story of success. Upon graduation,
you will be among innovators, company directors, officers, general managers, ministers,
scientists and media professionals if you make good use of your years of study at the university
and take this experience seriously.

The University of Jordan is the mother of all universities because it is the oldest and most
prestigious and because it has embraced tens of thousands of men and women. Like a mother, it
has contributed to the formation of Jordan’s national identity more that any other institution.

Did you know that the Jordanian theater was launched from Samir Al-Rifai Theatre, and that the
first pioneering community project was launched from the Department of Sociology, and that the
first accredited -hour system in the Arab world began in Jordan?

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 Activity: Look for a university graduate who have made a significant achievement in one of
the fields (literature, art, politics, press, etc.) and write or talk about their most
important achievements.

Video : Watch the following video about the university campus, and its faculties.

1. What do you like most about the campus?

2. What did you like the most about the video?

What is expected of you in your university years, while you are in the mother of all universities?

Perhaps the first thing that is required of you is to acquire knowledge. In every program at the
university, there is a carefully formulated study plan aimed at providing you with knowledge
related to particular disciplines. For each course, you will be provided with a study plan that
contain the objectives and expected outcomes. Taking your courses seriously, succeeding and
excelling in them is the first task. Students come to the university in order acquire specialized
knowledge that would provide them with a good job opportunity after graduation. The university
gives you the option of majoring and minoring in a particular specialization (e.g. English
Language, Business; Arabic Language and Education). It also provides you with the opportunity
to study two specializations if you desire. We live in a more competitive world than before, and
whoever graduates with less than required qualifications may find themselves in a dilemma, as
they may not find a suitable opportunity to work. Employers - especially in competing sectors -
look for the most qualified graduates. Whoever excels in their studies and achieves the required
competencies takes their chance, and those who do not excel will find themselves in modest job
opportunities and income or unemployed.

It is necessary to emphasize that there is no specialization that is more important than another,
whether in medical and scientific colleges or in humanities colleges. All disciplines are equally

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important to individuals and society at large. The difference is between those who master the
specialization and excel in it, and those who neglect and fail or graduate at a modest level,
scientifically or morally. Regardless of how you choose your specialization, you can be creative
and excel .Many students do not realize the importance of their majors until after a
while .Whatever feelings you may have about your specialization, be creative in it.

Think: If you were asked to choose a specialization other than yours, what would you
choose? Why? How will this major contribute to building your community? Is it only
important to your society or to humanity as well?

In addition to the wealth of knowledge that you will accumulate, you are expected to master
numerous skills. Your course plan is designed of to provide you with the required skills. There
are two types of skills: specialized skills that you acquire through specialization courses, and
general skills that you acquire through university requirements. While both types of skills are
important, general skills could be regarded as more significant as they help make a difference.
These skills are vary, including self-learning skills (unlike school student, university student s
are dependent on themselves in learning), information management skills, teamwork skills, and
deep understanding, analysis skills, innovation and creativity, in addition to communication
skills. Therefore, do not question why for example, as an engineering or agriculture student, you
study "military science" or "philosophy and critical thinking ?"Because these courses and many
other provide you with important skills in life and the labor market that you cannot acquire from
your specialization courses alone, and because these subjects contribute to refining your
personality.

We live in a world in which there is a wealth of information, which are not necessarily true and
the student’s task is to distinguish between opinion and truth, viewpoint and conviction ,
hypothesis and theory, sweeping generalization and precise, balanced speech. These are matters
you learn through university requirements, such as “learning skills and scientific research”,
“communication skills”, and other courses that fall under the title of “cultural package” and other
courses as well.
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Then there are attitudes, values and good morals, and these represent the third side of the
triangle, which complements knowledge and skill. University students are ones that have sound
and solid values, positive thinking, sincerity and maturity. They are law-abiding individuals, who
respect others, who have a spirit of cooperation and have the ethics of communication and the
preservation of the environment. They are students with high self-confidence and who
demonstrate great appreciation for others. In the end, individuals are judged, are offered job
opportunities and are promoted based on their overall personality, and not only on their
knowledge, education and skills. Many scholars and scientists today often talk about personality
traits as skills. It is well known that graduates of the University of Jordan have a well-balanced
and strong personality, very polite, sophisticated and a sense of responsibility.

Think: What are the main attributes of a disciplined individual other than the ones mentioned?

It is therefore necessary for you to be acquainted with the universities laws and regulations and
to abide by them, whether they are related to the courses you study or to university campus. The
laws and instructions in place are there to preserve the rights of people, regulate relations
between them ,achieve justice and enhance integrity and transparency. The laws and regulations
are there to support and enhance morals, and in order to prevent any violations. Hence, the
university's laws and instructions must be reviewed, and the Student Code of Conduct must be
taken seriously .The university, although like a merciful mother who embraces you and
sympathizes with you, is also like a mother firm and strict in dealing with any violations that
occur on campus, in order to protect you and your peers and to preserve the prestige of the
university and the prestige of the nation.

It is important for students to know their rights and responsibilities. Knowing rights and
responsibilities alone is not enough. What is required is to know both sides of the equation so
that we know what we have and what we owe. With most rights and duties stipulated in the
instructions. Hence, you are required to read the instructions closely. They are all available on
the university's website.

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 Important information:

In this course, you will have the opportunity to view the Code of Conduct. It is also important
to review the "Instructions for Granting a Bachelor's Degree", the "Instructions for Student
unions", the "Student Disciplinary System" and other regulations and instructions of interest to
you, all of which are available on the university's website under the heading "Legislation."

Think: Do you agree with the saying: “There is no freedom without responsibility ”? What is
your perception of freedom?

University years aim to refine your personality, and this is done through the student’s interest in
all of the above, in addition to engaging in various university activities, such as clubs, societies,
initiatives, forums and student unions supervised by the Deanship of Student Affairs, colleges
and centers .It is also done through serving the university and the community, by first
maintaining the cleanliness and safety of the university’s facilities, and by implementing
volunteer work and paid work .Voluntary or paid work gives the student the skill and experience
that complements his or her personality. In this course, you will have the opportunity to
volunteer if you wish. You will also have the opportunity to work and implement projects and
activities, individually and collectively.

Environmental issue: What do you think of people who throw cigarettes, tissue paper, or
juice boxes on campus? What do you think of people who take their holidays and leave their
litter behind? Why does this happen? What do you suggest as a solution to this growing
problem?

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 Reflect on the personal traits and then answer the questions below:

a. What are your three most important positive traits?

b. What are the three most important negative traits you wish to change?

General questions:

1. What happens if an individual acquires knowledge or skill without values or ethics?

2. How is knowledge a lever of the economy? And what is meant by that? Give some
examples.

3. What do you think are the most in-demand specializations in the labor market? Answer
based on one or more studies on the topic.

4. What are the sides of the triangle indicated in this unit? What happens if one of the ribs
falls off? Reflect and discuss.

5. What is meant by integrity and transparency? What is their significance in your opinion?

6. What is meant by the phrase “freedom does not exist outside the framework of morality,
but within it”? What happens if freedom is outside that framework?

7. How can you build your CV while you are in the university in ways that help you find a
good job opportunity after graduation?

8. What is meant by the statement “university is a microcosm of society”? Explain.

9. How can an individual be responsible for the delay of their society? Have you ever felt
responsible for this? How?