Examples

All Examples

It is impossible to list all possible Conflict of Interests as circumstances and relationships vary so widely.  The following, non-exhaustive list, may be considered as examples of Conflicts of Interest and some possible ways that they could be managed.  Depending on the individual circumstances, there may be other ways to manage the conflict.

Category

Example

Possible Management

Academic

A situation where you have to make a judgement, decision or assessment regarding a matter that involves someone with whom you are connected.  For example supervising, teaching, assessing, marking, peer review, disciplinary proceedings, post grad admissions

Agreeing not to partake in the judgement, decision or assessment.

Assigning a substitute/ additional person to make or review  the judgement, decision or assessment.

Academic

Acting as an external examiner or peer reviewer which involves someone with whom they are connected

Declare the potential conflict.

Academic

 

Serving on a disciplinary board for someone with whom they are connected.

Removing themself from the disciplinary board.

Academic

 

Being involved in an organisation offering a competitive program to the University.

Having no involvement in the competitive program.

Conflict of commitment

Providing a course at another university which could impact on time spent on their duties at UCC

Agreeing the time to be spent providing the other course.

Monitoring fulfilment of duties at UCC.

Conflict of commitment

Having a commitment, paid or unpaid, outside the University that involves frequent or prolonged absence from the University on non-University business 

Agreeing the maximum number of days absence per year and the duration.

Monitoring fulfilment of duties at UCC.

Conflict of commitment

Having several consultancy contracts that require regular trips abroad so that colleagues are regularly asked to cover for teaching.

Agreeing the maximum number of days absence per year and the duration.

Monitoring fulfilment of duties at UCC.

Conflict of commitment

A researcher is a consultant in a company for a long period.

Agreeing the duration of the consultancy before the agreement needs to be reviewed.

Quarterly check if there is any impact on the fulfilment of their UCC duties

Financial

 

Being a director of a company engaged by the University to undertake a consultancy.

Abstaining from meetings and decisions pertaining to the consultancy.

Not representing UCC at any meetings or decision-making and making it clear they are representing the other company.

Financial

 

Directing University resources to a company where they or family members are directors

Abstaining from decisions pertaining to the directing of these resources.

Not representing UCC at any meetings or decision-making and making it clear they are representing the other company.

Financial

 

Supervising a research student or staff member on a project in which the supervisor has a financial interest in the research results

Assigning a different supervisor.

Research results are independently reviewed.

Financial

 

Undertake paid private tutoring of University students in circumstances where this could reasonably be expected to be part of their normal teaching duties

Do not take payment for the tutoring.

Financial

 

A staff member responsible for purchasing goods or services receiving a gift from a sales representative of a supplier company

Declaring the gift.

Returning the gift to the supplier company.

Financial

 

A staff member (or someone they are connected to) has an interest in a company that may provide goods or services to the University.

Abstaining from decisions pertaining to the supply of the goods or services.

Not representing UCC at any meetings or decision-making and making it clear they are representing the other company.

Financial

Chairing a University committee which is to consider the allocation of funds to be shared between the four colleges, including their own.

Step down as chair for the item.

 

Research

A staff member intends to purchase equipment for their research from a company in which the staff member or someone they are connected to has an interest.

Declare the conflict of interest and make it clear they are not representing UCC at any meetings or decision-making.

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