Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy

Corruption shall be understood as dishonest, unethical, or improper conduct through which a person abuses a position of trust, authority, or institutional responsibility for personal, financial, professional, or other undue advantage. Within the context of a university, corruption may arise in financial transactions, but also in decision-making related to admissions, examinations, procurement, recruitment, academic progression, scholarships, partnerships, and certification.

Bribery shall be understood as the offering, giving, requesting, receiving, or agreeing to receive any item of value, benefit, favour, service, hospitality, influence, or other advantage with the intention of affecting the conduct, judgment, independence, or decision of a person performing a public, academic, administrative, fiduciary, or legal duty.

Termez University of Economics and Service is committed to the highest standards of integrity, transparency, probity, and ethical conduct in all areas of its activity. Bribery and corruption are incompatible with the values of a modern higher education institution and undermine academic quality, institutional credibility, public trust, and the long-term sustainability of the University.

TUES adopts a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption. Any proven involvement in bribery, facilitation payments, kickbacks, improper inducements, concealed conflicts of interest, or corrupt influence over institutional decisions will be treated as a serious breach of University rules.

This Policy applies to all persons acting for, studying at, working for, representing, or otherwise carrying out functions connected with TUES. This includes academic staff, administrative staff, senior managers, consultants, contractors, volunteers, temporary workers, interns, students, members of committees, and external agents.

Bribery is not limited to the exchange of cash. It includes any financial or non-financial advantage offered, given, requested, or accepted in order to influence the improper performance of a function or decision. Within a university, this may include money, expensive gifts, paid travel, hospitality beyond reasonable limits, hidden commissions, preferential treatment for relatives, or the manipulation of academic or administrative outcomes.

This Policy is aligned with the Republic of Uzbekistan's anti-corruption policy environment and with international anti-corruption norms, including compliance with the requirements of the UN Convention against Corruption.

TUES reduces corruption risk most effectively by strengthening the overall environment in which decisions are made, improving institutional culture, restricting the opportunity to exchange improper benefits, and reducing the demand for corrupt advantage through fair and visible systems.

Effective risk management lies at the centre of this Policy. At TUES, bribery and corruption risks are treated as part of the University's broader governance, internal control, and institutional risk management system. Anti-bribery considerations should not be isolated from strategic planning, financial controls, procurement oversight, academic quality assurance, or operational review.

Areas requiring particularly careful attention include admissions and enrollment decisions, examinations and grading, awarding of diplomas or certificates, procurement of goods and services, construction and renovation contracts, recruitment and promotion decisions, student housing and scholarship allocation, and the use of external agents or intermediaries.

The University shall periodically review these areas and ensure that risk identification is not static. New risks may arise through digital systems, cross-border partnerships, consultancy arrangements, private sponsorship, or rapid institutional expansion.

Gifts, hospitality, and entertainment are covered by this Policy. TUES recognizes that not all hospitality is improper, but such benefits become problematic where they could influence, or appear to influence, professional judgment or institutional decisions.

TUES permits only reasonable, proportionate, transparent, and professionally justifiable hospitality that serves a legitimate academic, administrative, or partnership purpose and does not create dependency, obligation, or appearance of favouritism. Hospitality must never be used to obtain an improper advantage.

The University shall maintain an appropriate internal system for recording gifts and hospitality where declaration is required. TUES prohibits the giving or receiving of money, cash-equivalents, personal commissions, or unofficial payments in all circumstances.

TUES places high value on its reputation for ethical behavior, academic fairness, lawful conduct, and responsible institutional governance. The University prohibits the offering, giving, promising, requesting, agreeing to receive, or accepting of any bribe or corrupt advantage in any form, whether direct or indirect, whether monetary or non-monetary.

Any suspected breach of this Policy, any attempted bribe, any suspicious inducement, or any concern that an institutional decision may be improperly influenced must be reported through the University's reporting processes. The prevention, detection, and reporting of bribery are shared responsibilities across the University.

TUES recognizes that a policy is only effective if it is known, understood, and applied. It is the responsibility of University leadership, deans, heads of departments, and managers to ensure that this Policy is communicated regularly and meaningfully to those engaged in University business.

Communication shall extend not only to staff but also, where appropriate, to students, contractors, service providers, consultants, intermediaries, and other external parties. The University shall also seek to provide appropriate guidance, orientation, and training in areas where bribery risk may be elevated.

This Policy and the procedures linked to it shall be reviewed regularly to ensure that they remain effective, current, and proportionate to the University's actual risk exposure. Monitoring should include consideration of identified risks, reported incidents, control weaknesses, training needs, procurement patterns, admissions integrity, and lessons arising from audits or investigations.

The results of monitoring and review should be reported through the University's governance and management arrangements. Where incidents or control weaknesses are identified, corrective action should be documented, assigned, and followed through.

TUES encourages all staff, students, contractors, and other persons associated with the University to report concerns relating to suspected bribery, attempted bribery, improper inducements, hidden conflicts of interest, suspicious procurement conduct, admissions irregularities, examination manipulation, or any other conduct that may breach this Policy.

TUES is committed to ensuring that persons who report concerns in good faith are protected from retaliation, intimidation, adverse treatment, or procedural disadvantage. Allegations raised under this Policy shall be treated seriously, assessed fairly, and addressed in accordance with applicable University procedures and relevant law.