Remaining Ethical in an Era of Constant Change
Why Ethics?
Learning and development professionals influence how individuals, organizations, professions, and societies learn, perform, adapt, and develop. With this influence comes an ethical responsibility to exercise professional judgment with integrity, competence, care, fairness, and accountability.
How do Ethics Shape our Field?
This Code articulates the ethical principles and responsibilities that guide learning and development professionals across five expanding layers of responsibility: self, others, organizations, the profession, and society. The five layers represent interconnected and expanding domains of ethical responsibility rather than a hierarchy of importance or priority. Their order does not imply that responsibilities in one layer take precedence over those in another. Responsibilities across layers are interconnected and should be considered together.
What Set’s it Apart?
- Built for AI and emerging technologies. The Code applies whenever you select, design, implement, or evaluate technology, with explicit attention to accessibility, learner privacy, data protection, equity, and transparency.
- A method for hard calls. Four steps for applying the Code to new or ambiguous situations, plus six more when responsibilities conflict with each other, with organizational policy, or with the law.
- Responsibility beyond the organization. A full layer on society covers equity and access, information integrity, the public good, and sustainability.
Date: 2026
How you can trust this product
The IBSTPI Code of Ethics was validated internationally.
