Code of Conduct

When deciding to enroll in ABROADER’s program, the participant agrees to abide by the Code of Conduct set out in this document. This Code of Conduct is in place to ensure the safety and well-being of the participants, Host Organizations, the local communities and ABROADER, and overall, to ensure a meaningful and rewarding program experience for all stakeholders.

ABROADER is an equal opportunity organization and does not discriminate on any basis race, color, creed, gender or sexuality, ideology, religion, economic status, age or ethnic background. ABROADER expects that the participant should conduct themselves in a manner that is responsible, professional, respectful and supportive of the rights of others. In addition to the pre-departure information provided by ABROADER, participants are responsible for researching and understanding issues that relate to a respective host country’s laws, as well as the safety, health, political and cultural conditions of the host country.

When enrolling in a program abroad, your behaviors will not only reflect your home institution and ABROADER but also of your home country; therefore, it is important for the participants’ own wellbeing, as well as that of others, that they act responsibly at all times. Your conduct should reflect a long-term wish for on-going hospitality between you, your home country and Vietnam, and between ABROADER and host organizations in the future.
The following is expected of the participant when participating in our program. Violation of any of the following policies can lead to suspension of the program and for in-person programs, compulsory return to your home country.

General Conduct

Overall, participants are also expected to, at all times, comply with all applicable laws and regulations in place during their program. All participants must ensure that their actions cannot be interpreted as being, in any way, in contravention of local laws and regulations.
Participants, in addition to other program responsibilities, are responsible for:

• Ensuring they are in sufficient good health to undertake the program.
• Acting in an appropriate and respectful manner towards the local people, fellow participants, all staff in accordance with the customs, laws, regulations and ordinances of the destination country.
• Effectively communicating your interests, skills, limitations and needs to ABROADER and host representatives.
• Understanding that all participants who attend ABROADER program acknowledge, have read and will comply with the Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) Policy, Child Protection Policy and Exploitation Modern Slavery Policy.

Violation of any of the following may result in disciplinary actions:

• Criminal behavior or violation of local laws, including theft or vandalism
• Abusive language or behavior toward staff, hosts, or other participants
• Disorderly, indecent, or obscene conduct violent behavior
• Damage to program facilities including accommodation, host organizations’ facilities
• Repeated intoxication
• Discrimination of any kind, including against race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ideology, religion or other
• Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment
• Disorderly, indecent or obscene conduct
• Falsification of documents or personal records submitted to ABROADER as part of the application or acceptance process
• Failure to disclose anything that may impact on program participation or successful completion of the program during the application or acceptance process
• Any inappropriate conduct, including but not limited to violation of any ABROADER policies

Drugs & Alcohol

The possession, sale, and/or consumption of illegal drugs are treated as serious crimes in Vietnam. Those who use illegal drugs and illicit use legal drugs are in violation of the law and the program’s regulations. ABROADER will not assist in legal matters caused by a participant’s use of alcohol or drugs.
Irresponsible drinking, gambling, fighting, swearing, and similar unprofessional activities are strictly prohibited during the time of the program. ABROADER will not assist in legal matters caused by a participant’s use of alcohol or drugs and other crimes against Vietnam’s laws.

Sexual Misconduct

ABROADER prohibits all participants; engagement in prostitution. Prostitution is illegal in Vietnam. Being is caught contributing to the prostitution industry in any way, they will receive punishment from the government of Vietnam.
ABROADER strictly prohibits sexual misconduct, defined as nonconsensual physical contact of a sexual nature. It encompasses a broad range of behaviors, including acts using force, threat, intimidation, or advantage gained by the offended student’s mental or physical incapacity or impairment of which the offending student was aware or should have been aware. A charged student’s use of any drug, including alcohol will be considered an exacerbating rather than a mitigating circumstance. Sexual misconduct of any kind represents socially irresponsible behavior and violates the rights of others.
Participants must not engage in sexual harassment or conduct themselves in a way that could be construed as such, for example, by using inappropriate language, keeping or posting inappropriate materials in the workplace and/ or public area.

Communication Policy

ABROADER seeks to provide timely, accurate and helpful communications to the participant throughout the program, and vice versa. Participant is asked to respond promptly and courteously to all proper requests for information for organizing purposes.
To ensure timely support, the Participant is asked to inform the Program Coordinator in any cases of emergency, including but not limited to, illness, accidents, crimes, disputes with locals as soon as possible.
During and after the program, participants give consent to ABROADER to use Participant’s information and images in ABROADER’s marketing materials; and provide end-of-program evaluation and testimonials.
The participant must not use ABROADER and/ or Host Organizations’ identification, stationery, supplies, and equipment for personal or political matters. When communicating publicly on matters that involve ABROADER or host organizations, the participant must not presume to speak for ABROADER and host organizations on any topic, unless they are certain that the views they express are those of the organizations, and it is the organizations’ desire that such views be publicly disseminated.
When dealing with any program’s outsider, including public officials, the participant must take care not to compromise the integrity or damage the reputation of ABROADER and cooperative host organizations, or any outside individual, business, or government body.

Confidentiality

The participant may not disclose confidential details of the Host Organizations or ABROADER to a third party (including friends, classmates, or publication on social media) without the host organization or ABROADER’s consents. ABROADER reserves the right to cancel the participant’s program or placement and take any legal action to preserve the interest of the parties involved.

Behavior Policy at Host Companies

While participating in Host Organization, the participant will conduct herself/himself in a professional and ethical manner at all times. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Remain drug and alcohol-free, and avoid the use of controlled substances
• Familiarize with, and adhere to, relevant organizational arrangements and procedures
• Dress appropriately for the work setting. Follow the host organizations’ dress code so that your appearance does not cause a disturbance, distract or interfere with the instructional program, or constitute a health or safety hazard.
• Be observant, watch how other people express and respond to situations; Make efforts to understand host organizations’ working culture and learn to adapt accordingly
• Listen, and ask questions when you need help or clarification; avoid jumping to conclusion
• Be fair, considerate, honest, trustworthy, and cooperative when dealing with co-workers
• Changes in work schedule, supervision, or problems at your site must be reported to ABROADER Program Coordinator
• If you feel victimized by a work-related incident, contact ABROADER Program Coordinator immediately
• Participants are not permitted to take holidays during their program without approval. Special requests for holidays must be approved by the participant’s supervisor at the Host Organization, and to inform ABROADER.

Accommodation policy

By participating in the program, participants agree to the policies, rules, and regulations of the accommodation provided by ABROADER. All housing disputes will be settled according to the housing policies. ABROADER is responsible for finding housing for participants; however, we cannot guarantee particular housing placement requests, options, room arrangements, or locations, as this is always subject to availability.
Participants are responsible for their rooms when staying either with local families or in an apartment, including their appliances and property and shared space. When participants take their housemates, neighbors seriously and regard them with respect, this attitude is usually returned in kind and makes the area a more pleasant place to live for everyone.
In general, participants are required to comply with:

• Do not take a friend home without asking for permission from the host family
• Do not share the house/room key with anyone except for the landlord (if staying in an apartment) and other family members (if taking homestay)
• Be respectful of other housemates and neighbors at all times, including avoiding making noise in the evening, not having a party without consent from the apartment manager or homestay family, not staying out after curfew without telling homestay family if staying with a host family
• Take good care of properties, as well as appliances and furniture in accommodation
• Keep your place tidy, take out the rubbish and put them at designated places
• Participants will be responsible for damage to or loss of housing property.

In respect to local law and culture

As a visitor, either remote or in-person, you need to respect local cultures, traditions and religious places. Insensitive behavior such as taking photographs of people without their consent or failure to observe local customs can cause offence.
Participants are also required to behave respectfully and follow local regulations. Behavior such as: Smoking on the bus or visiting sites, carrying dangerous items or substances, damaging public properties, is forbidden and can result in legal punishments.
For an in-person program, as you are in Vietnam as a participant of ABROADER’s program, you need to inform our Program Coordinator of any travel plan outside of your host city. You will need to get approval from our Program Coordinator, your host company supervisor, host family (if taking homestay) prior to booking your travel.

Transportation

For in-person programs, for those who do not have a Vietnamese driving license, it is illegal to drive vehicles, and motorbikes, by yourself in Vietnam. If you are travelling as a passenger on a motorbike, you are obligated to wear helmets and remain careful and alert. Traffic in Vietnam is very different from your home countries so ABROADER advises all our participants not to drive any vehicles in Vietnam.

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Violation of any of the above-mentioned rules is likely to lead to the immediate suspension of the program, and immediate return to home country for in-person programs.
By participating in ABROADER program, Participants agree to the above stated Program Code of Conduct and will make every effort to abide by it during their program.