Solutions to Confront Ethical Challenges from the Perspective of the Faculty Members: A Qualitative Study

Background and Objectives: Human behaviors are shaped through their experiences in universities, and the failure to find effective solutions to ethical challenges can jeopardize the ethical integrity of universities and society. The current study aimed to provide effective solutions to ethical challenges from the perspective of faculty members. Methods: The current study was a qualitative content analysis. The study population was selected by purposeful sampling, and the data were collected in deep face-to-face semi-structured personal interviews. Simultaneously with data collection, the analysis of qualitative data was carried out by qualitative content analysis method using the eight steps of Elo and Kynga¨s (2008). Results: The text of the interviews was analyzed by 35 professors; thereafter, three themes and nine categories were obtained. These themes included value centering (entailing ethical orientation in management, ethical orientation in the evaluation, and ethical knowledge management), belief in values (consisting of motivating, increased moral sensitivity, and teaching spirituality), and developing the values (including promoting morality, introducing role models, and reflection on values). Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, these three important issues are considered effective solutions to ethical challenges. The achievement of these solutions requires specific requirements which need to be met in order to be realized.