1. Purpose

This Ethics Policy defines the minimum standards of ethical behaviour expected across the organisation. It supports safe training delivery, reliable assessment outcomes, authentic certification processes, learner welfare, responsible commercial conduct and compliance with applicable statutory, regulatory, accreditation and customer requirements.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all employees, directors, trainers, assessors, visiting faculty, consultants, contractors, agents, franchise or partner personnel, delegates, students, candidates, suppliers and any person acting for or on behalf of Elite Offshore Academy.

It applies at the Academy premises, during off-site training, online or blended learning, assessments, examinations, client visits, accommodation or logistics arrangements, social media activity, marketing activity, and all dealings with regulators, flag administrations, certifying bodies, clients and learners.

3. Ethical Principles

Integrity: We act honestly, avoid deception and do not misrepresent course approvals, competence outcomes, learner performance, certificates, affiliations or regulatory status.

Safety first: We do not compromise health, safety, environment or security standards for commercial convenience, time pressure or customer preference.

Fairness and impartiality: We provide equal and respectful treatment and assess competence based on evidence, not personal preference, influence, payment status, nationality, gender, background, employer or relationship.

Transparency: We communicate course scope, prerequisites, fees, cancellation conditions, certificate status, limitations and learner responsibilities clearly before enrolment wherever practicable.

Accountability: We keep accurate records, accept responsibility for our actions, correct errors promptly and cooperate with audits, investigations and corrective actions.

Confidentiality and data protection: We protect learner, client, employee and business information and use it only for legitimate training, certification, statutory, contractual or quality purposes.

4. Compliance With Laws, Standards and Approvals

Elite Offshore Academy and all covered persons shall comply with applicable laws, regulations, contractual obligations, accreditation requirements, approval conditions, industry standards and internal procedures relevant to offshore, marine and industrial training.

No person shall knowingly provide false statements, fabricated documents, inaccurate attendance records, altered assessment evidence or misleading information to any learner, customer, auditor, approving authority, certifying body, payment provider, employer or government agency.

Where requirements conflict or are unclear, the matter must be escalated to management before any commitment is made.

5. Training and Assessment Integrity

Trainers and assessors shall deliver courses only within their competence, authorisation and approved course scope. Course content must be delivered in line with the approved syllabus, current procedure, safety requirements and applicable assessment criteria.

Attendance, identity verification, prerequisite verification, practical performance, examination results and assessment records must be accurate, complete and traceable.

Passing a candidate who has not met required attendance, competence, safety or assessment criteria is prohibited. Any pressure to pass a candidate improperly must be refused and reported.

Learners shall not cheat, plagiarise, impersonate another candidate, use unauthorised aids during assessment, falsify experience, submit fraudulent documents or interfere with assessment evidence.

Reasonable support may be given to learners, but support must not compromise assessment impartiality or the validity of results.

6. Certificate Authenticity and Misrepresentation

Certificates, letters, records and verification data shall be issued only after all required course, attendance, identity, payment and assessment conditions have been satisfied.

Backdating, unauthorised certificate amendment, issuance without attendance or assessment, use of unofficial templates, manipulation of verification records, or facilitation of fake certificates is strictly prohibited.

Any suspected fake certificate, forged document, altered record, impersonation or misuse of the Elite Offshore Academy name or logo must be reported immediately to management for investigation and, where appropriate, reporting to affected clients, authorities or certifying bodies.

Marketing and verbal communication must not imply that completion of a course guarantees employment, licensing, regulator acceptance, promotion or third-party recognition unless such claim is formally documented and currently valid.

7. Anti-Bribery, Gifts and Improper Influence

Elite Offshore Academy prohibits bribery, kickbacks, facilitation payments, secret commissions and any offer, request or acceptance of an improper benefit intended to influence a decision, assessment, certificate, admission, purchase, contract, audit outcome or regulatory matter.

Gifts, hospitality or favours may be accepted only if they are modest, lawful, occasional, transparent, not cash or cash-equivalent, and incapable of influencing professional judgement. Anything that may create a conflict or appearance of influence must be declined or disclosed to management.

No employee, trainer, assessor or agent may request personal payment from a learner or client for preferential treatment, assessment results, attendance regularisation, certificate processing, refund approval, job placement or administrative action.

8. Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest exists when a personal, financial, family, employment or other relationship may influence, or appear to influence, professional judgement.

Covered persons must disclose actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest before participating in decisions, procurement, admissions, assessment, certificate issuance, complaints handling, hiring, supplier selection or partnership approvals.

Examples include assessing a close relative or personal friend, recommending a supplier in which the employee has an interest, accepting commissions from accommodation or logistics vendors without disclosure, or handling a complaint involving one’s own conduct.

9. Respect, Diversity and Learner Welfare

Elite Offshore Academy is committed to a respectful learning and working environment free from harassment, bullying, intimidation, discrimination, exploitation, retaliation, abusive language, humiliation and unsafe conduct.

All persons shall treat others with dignity irrespective of nationality, caste, race, religion, gender, age, disability, language, employer, rank, experience, economic status or other personal characteristics protected by law.

Learners must receive clear instructions, safe supervision, access to required facilities, and fair opportunities to raise questions or concerns. Trainers must be firm on safety and discipline while maintaining professional respect.

10. Health, Safety, Environment and Security Ethics

Safety is an ethical obligation. Training shall not be conducted where risks are uncontrolled or where facilities, equipment, supervision, emergency arrangements or learner fitness are inadequate for the activity.

All incidents, near misses, unsafe conditions, damaged equipment, environmental concerns and security concerns must be reported and addressed promptly. Records must not be concealed or altered.

No person shall pressure staff or learners to ignore safety rules, bypass practical controls, continue unsafe training, underreport incidents, misuse PPE, or operate equipment without authorisation and supervision.

11. Accurate Communication, Advertising and Public Claims

Public statements, website content, brochures, quotations, course pages, WhatsApp messages, social media posts and sales communications must be truthful, current and not misleading.

Course duration, fees, prerequisites, approvals, assessment requirements, refund conditions, certificate validity, verification process, facilities and accommodation support should be described accurately.

Use of customer names, logos, photographs, testimonials or learner images must be authorised and must not imply approval, partnership or endorsement beyond what is accurate.

12. Confidentiality, Records and Data Protection

Confidential information includes learner identity documents, assessment results, attendance records, client requirements, contracts, pricing, audit findings, staff records, supplier data, passwords, system access, internal procedures and business plans.

Such information must be collected lawfully, stored securely, accessed only by authorised persons, shared only for legitimate purposes, and retained or disposed of according to legal, contractual and quality-system requirements.

Employees and contractors must not disclose confidential information on social media, messaging platforms, public forums or to unauthorised persons. Suspected data loss, unauthorised access or cyber incidents must be reported immediately.

13. Use of Company Property and Digital Systems

Company property, training aids, equipment, course materials, classrooms, vehicles, online systems, email, logos, templates and intellectual property must be used responsibly and only for authorised purposes.

Users must not introduce malware, share passwords, bypass access controls, copy proprietary course material without permission, or use company systems for unlawful, offensive, misleading or unauthorised commercial activity.

14. Suppliers, Agents and Partners

Suppliers, subcontractors, agents, consultants and partners must be selected based on competence, quality, safety, reliability, legal compliance and fair commercial terms.

Business partners must not be used to make improper payments, falsify records, misrepresent approvals, exploit learners, misuse data or avoid obligations that Elite Offshore Academy would be prohibited from doing directly.

Where partner-delivered courses, sponsorships or third-party services are offered, roles, responsibilities, approvals and limitations must be clearly communicated.

15. Complaints, Reporting and Non-Retaliation

Any person may raise a concern about unethical conduct, unsafe practice, fake certificates, discrimination, harassment, bribery, conflict of interest, data misuse, assessment malpractice or misleading communication.

Reports may be made to the immediate supervisor, Training Manager, Management Representative, Compliance Officer, or by email to info@eliteoffshore.com. Complaints from customers or delegates should be recorded, acknowledged and handled impartially.

Retaliation against any person who raises a concern in good faith or cooperates in an investigation is prohibited. False complaints made maliciously may lead to disciplinary action.

16. Investigation and Corrective Action

Elite Offshore Academy shall review ethics concerns promptly and fairly. Investigations may include review of attendance records, CCTV or access data where lawful, assessment evidence, emails, payment records, certificates, interviews and system logs.

Corrective action may include counselling, retraining, reassessment, certificate cancellation or correction, customer notification, supplier removal, disciplinary action, termination, legal action, or reporting to authorities or approving bodies where required.

Investigation records must be factual, confidential and retained according to the quality management system and applicable legal requirements.

17. Responsibilities

Management shall lead by example, provide resources, maintain procedures, review ethics performance, protect reporting channels and ensure appropriate action is taken.

Trainers and assessors shall maintain competence, deliver approved content, uphold safety, assess fairly, maintain records and report malpractice or pressure.

Administrative and sales personnel shall communicate accurately, protect records, apply fees/refund processes fairly and avoid misleading commitments.

Learners and delegates shall follow safety rules, provide accurate information, respect others, attend required sessions, complete assessments honestly and report concerns.

Suppliers, agents and partners shall meet agreed ethical, safety, confidentiality and compliance expectations.

18. Breach of Policy

Breach of this Ethics Policy may result in corrective action, withdrawal from training, invalidation of assessment, certificate withholding or cancellation, disciplinary action, termination of contract, removal from supplier or partner lists, civil recovery, or reporting to regulators, law enforcement, clients or certifying bodies.

The seriousness of action will depend on the facts, intent, risk, harm caused, recurrence and cooperation during investigation.

19. Review and Continuous Improvement

This policy shall be reviewed at least annually and whenever there are significant changes in law, accreditation requirements, approval conditions, business activities, customer expectations, complaints, audit findings or management review outcomes.

Lessons from complaints, incidents, audits, learner feedback, customer feedback and regulatory developments shall be used to improve procedures, training, assessment controls and ethical performance.