The Humanities International Student Society (HintSS) operates in accordance with a Code of Conduct. This document delineates expectations of members of the programme, including the behaviour of mentees, mentors and the Board. The most recent applicable version of the Code of Conduct was ratified and acknowledged in December 2019.

Where the document refers to the “QA Programme”, it can be understood to apply to HIntSS, pending ratification of an updated Code of Conduct that reflects the organisation’s change of name.

The full text of the Code of Conduct can be read below:


Code of Conduct

The QA Programme is a social organization run by students for students, with the purpose of cultivating and strengthening the international study environment at the Faculty of Humanities. The events created and hosted by the programme make up the international study environment, meaning that the primary focus is social, cultural, linguistic and/or academic. Therefore, it is vital that the programme and all its members, mentors and mentees adhere to the same moral codex.

As part of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Copenhagen, all relevant guidelines and policies of the Faculty and the University naturally cover the QA Programme as well. This Code of Conduct has been made to specifically cover members of the QA Programme.

Mentors in the QA Programme are expected to be considerate about cultural differences between themselves and mentees. The programme relies on its mentors to behave according to their own best judgement, but most importantly, to follow the basic principles of the programme which are set in place to ensure the best possible relations between its members. These are:

  • Integrity
  • Respect
  • Equality
  • Reliability
  • Cultural consideration
  • Inclusivity

In order to prepare mentors for a successful semester, we strongly encourage all mentors to participate in the mentor workshop hosted by the QA Programme. The purpose of the workshop is to introduce mentors to the board, the structure of the programme, and to guide mentors through the mentoring process and the ethical considerations that has to be taken.

If a mentor is unable to attend the mentor workshop due to exams or pre-scheduled travelling, they will receive the information presented at the workshop. All mentors are also more than welcome to ask a board member or their supergroup leader to go through our mentor-guidelines with them during the semester. The QA Programme encourages questions and are always looking for ways toimprove, so that we can offer the best possibilities for our members.

It is the mentors’/mentees’ responsibility to contact the board if any problems arise, since the QA Programme is decentralized and the main function of the board is to create mentor groups, pair mentors with mentees, host supergroup meetings and events throughout the semester. Besides these events, the board does not oversee every interaction between co-mentors and their mentees and therefore has to rely on its members to inform us of any and all problems. The board is always available and interested in helping its members but needs to be informed of any issues in order to provide assistance.

The QA Programme has a zero-tolerance policy toward bullying, sexual harassment, discrimination against skin color, race, political orientation, disabilities, sexual orientation, religion, national, social or ethnic origin and all other intolerable behavior. All complaints are taken seriously and discussed at closed board meetings and/or with responsible faculty employees. Mentors and mentees are valued equally and are equal members of the QA Programme. Failure to comply with the zero-tolerance policy will lead to permanent expulsion from the programme. If members have been made uncomfortable or feel targeted due to comments or actions from other members, please inform the board at qaprogramme@qaprogramme.dk [admin@hintssociety.dk] or the faculty/your institute.

An acknowledgement of the Code of Conduct, dated 18th December 2019.  It has been signed by the Faculty Director and the International Coordinator.