Conflicts of Interest

As a chartered director, as a career practitioner, and in supervising research students, I get reasonably attuned to potential - or perceived - conflicts of interest. Interestingly, it is not my academic experience that has the strongest conflict awareness; it is as a career practitioner, followed closely by my directorships. It is surprising how others may not see a conflict until it is pointed out to them.

Recently I found a really great list of conflict items from Massey University, which is based on the Australian Council of Graduate Research guidelines (formerly DDOGS). I thought that I would share this with you all:

Type	How	Detail	Risk
Conflict with the Candidate	Working relationship	Examiner has co-authored a paper with the candidate within the last five years	MAJOR
Conflict with the Candidate	Working relationship	Examiner has worked with the candidate on matters regarding the thesis e.g. previous member of the advisory team	MAJOR
Conflict with the Candidate	Working relationship	Examiner has employed the candidate or been employed by the candidate within the last five years	MAJOR
Conflict with the Candidate	Working relationship	Examiner is in negotiation to directly employ or be employed by the candidate	MAJOR
Conflict with the Candidate	Working relationship	Examiner has acted as a referee for the candidate for employment	MAJOR
Conflict with the Candidate	Personal relationship	Examiner is a known relative of the candidate	MAJOR
Conflict with the Candidate	Personal relationship	Examiner is a friend, associate or mentor of the candidate	MAJOR
Conflict with the Candidate	Personal relationship	Examiner and the candidate have an existing or a previous emotional relationship of de facto, are co-residents or are members of a common household	MAJOR
Conflict with the Candidate	Legal relationship	Examiner is or was married to the candidate	MAJOR
Conflict with the Candidate	Legal relationship	Examiner is legally family to the candidate (for example, step-father, sister-in- law)	MAJOR
Conflict with the Candidate	Legal relationship	Examiner is either a legal guardian or dependent of the candidate or has power of attorney for the candidate	MAJOR
Conflict with the Candidate	Business, Professional and/or Social Relationships	Examiner is currently in or has had a business relationship with the candidate in the last five years (for example, partner in a small business)	MAJOR
Conflict with the Candidate	Business, Professional and/or Social Relationships	Examiner is in a social relationship with the candidate, such as co-Trustees of a Will or god-parent	MAJOR
Conflict with the Supervisor	Working Relationship	Examiner was a candidate of the supervisor within the past three years	MAJOR
Conflict with the Supervisor	Working Relationship	Examiner has co-authored a publication with the supervisor in the past three years	MAJOR
Conflict with the Supervisor	Personal Relationship	Examiner is in negotiation to directly employ or be employed by the supervisor	MAJOR
Conflict with the Supervisor	Personal Relationship	Examiner is a known relative of the supervisor	MAJOR
Conflict with the Supervisor	Personal Relationship	Examiner and the supervisor have an existing or a previous emotional relationship of de facto, are co-residents or are members of a common household	MAJOR
Conflict with the Supervisor	Legal relationship	Examiner is or was married to the supervisor	MAJOR
Conflict with the Supervisor	Legal relationship	Examiner is legally family (for example, step-father, sister-in-law) to the supervisor	MAJOR
Conflict with the Supervisor	Legal relationship	Examiner is either a legal guardian or dependent of the supervisor or has power of attorney for the supervisor	MAJOR
Conflict with the Supervisor	Business, Professional and/or Social Relationships	Examiner is currently in or has had a business relationship with the supervisor in the last five years (for example, partner in a small business or employment)	MAJOR
Conflict with the Supervisor	Business, Professional and/or Social Relationships	Examiner is in a social relationship with the supervisor, such as co-Trustees of a Will or god-parent	MAJOR
Conflict with the University	Working Relationship	Examiner has examined for the University two or more times in the past 12 months and/or five or more times in the past five years	MINOR
Conflict with the University	Other Relationship	Examiner has/had a formal grievance with the University	MAJOR
Conflict with the subject matter	Research	Examiner has a direct commercial interest in the outcomes of the research	MAJOR
Conflict with other examiners	Personal Relationship	Examiner is married to, closely related to or has a close personal relationship with another examiner	MAJOR

I think this list is superb. Well done, Massey.

Sam

References:

• ACGR (2021). Good Practice › Good Practice Guidelines. https://www.acgr.edu.au/good-practice/best-practice/
• Massey University (2012). Massey University Examination Conflict of Interest Guidelines. https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/fms/Research/Graduate%20Research%20School/Documents/Administration%20forms/Examination%20Conflict%20of%20Interest%20Guidelines%20-%20V1%2007_12_12.pdf?