Forms:

1. ERCI Personal Details Form
2. ERCI Appeals  Form
3. ERCI Course Transfer Form
4. ERCI Course Deferment Form
5. ERCI Course Withdrawal Form
6. ERCI Refund Request Form
7. ERCI Student Pass Cancellation Form

1. The Attendance Policy applies to all modes of learning, classroom, synchronous and asynchronous e-learning.

• • Classroom Learning – refers to lessons that are conducted physically on campus.
  • Synchronous e-learning – refers to lessons that are conducted online via Zoom.
  • Asynchronous e-learning – refers to task/class-work and learning that are to be completed online and at student’s own pace

2. Students must meet the minimum attendance requirements:

• • Student’s Pass Holders – 90% attendance
  • Non-student pass holders – 75% attendance

3. Student’s Pass Holders and non-student pass holders who do not attain an attendance of at least 90% and 75%, may run the risk of having their Student’s Pass cancelled or being barred from examinations.
4. Students who is absent for 3 consecutive days will be issued a warning notification.
5. Student who is absent for 7 consecutive days will be issued a warning notification and (where applicable) ICA will be notified. The School may report to the Police should the student remain absent and un-contactable after 7 consecutive days.
6. For Student’s Pass holders, the Institute will inform ICA immediately if student has a less than 90% attendance percentage (without valid reasons) at the end of any month during the duration of the course.
7. For classroom learning, the Lecturer will be taking attendance of students at the beginning and at the end of the class/session.

• • Students are also not allowed to leave before the end of class.
  • If a student is late, the student is expected to go straight to the classroom and report to the Lecturer.
  • If students are late (more than 15 minutes) or leave before the end of the class, they will be treated as being absent for that day.

8. For synchronous e-learning, the Lecturer will be taking attendance of students online via Zoom at the beginning and at the end of the class/session.

• • Students attending synchronous e-learning need to ensure that their webcam is turned on with their full face visible before their attendance can be marked.
  • Students who are late (more than 15 minutes), turned off their webcam, show case of inactivity or leave/logout before the end of the class, will be treated as absent for that day.
  • Students are subjected to misconduct if they are found to have another person logging in on their behalf for classes.

9. For tasks/work assigned to be completed online (asynchronous e-learning), attendance will be marked once the students complete the task.

10. Attendance shall be monitored on a monthly basis in accordance with ICA attendance monitoring guidelines.

11. The attendance monitoring system must be stringent and tamper proof. At the minimum, the attendance monitoring system must include:

• • collecting any medical certificates for any absenteeism (for student pass holders, only medical certificates are accepted as proof for absenteeism. Any other documents should only be accepted on a case-by-case basis with full justification acceptable by ICA);

• • cancelling student’s pass with ICA when international students’ attendance does not meet ICA’s requirement;

• • taking appropriate and timely interventions for absenteeism without valid reasons (eg: issuing warning notification, counseling etc…)

• • notifying parents/guardians of regular absenteeism for students under 18 years of age.

To facilitate timely interventions, the absenteeism management process shall be initiated when:

FOR Student’s Pass holders

• • Send an email to students on the reason for being absent from class.
  • Students with valid reasons will need to provide supporting documents within the expected timeframe. Students without valid reasons will receive an email notification reminding them that they should not be absent without a valid reason.
  • For students who continue to be absent (without valid reason) after receiving the first email notification, a counseling session will be conducted with the respective Programme Managers. If there is no improvement, the student’s case will be escalated to the Academic Manager for further counseling that may lead to student’s pass cancellation.

FOR Non-Student’s Pass holders

The Programme Manager administrator must:

• • Send an email to students on the reason for being absent from class.
  • Students with valid reasons will need to provide supporting documents within the expected timeframe. Students without valid reasons will receive an email notification reminding them that they should not be absent without a valid reason.
  • For students who continue to be absent (without valid reason) after receiving the first email notification, a counseling session will be conducted with the respective Programme Managers. If there is no improvement, the student’s case will be escalated to the Academic Manager for further counseling that may lead to expulsion from Institute.
  • Send a notification to the company’s HR informing them of the student’s absenteeism within 2 days of the counseling session if no valid reason for absenteeism is provided (for company sponsored students).

12. Attendance records for classroom learning, synchronous and asynchronous elearning must be:

• • accurate;
  • up-to-date (within 7 days);
  • Retained for 5 years after the student graduates

13. All administrators are familiar with the attendance requirement policy, its processes, procedures and timelines in order to clarify student queries.

Academic Code of Conduct

Standard of Referencing

Students are required to follow the Harvard referencing system provided in the presentation of any written work.

Plagiarism

ERCI seeks to encourage the maintenance of the highest levels of academic integrity. Acts of cheating and plagiarism will be regarded as serious offences.

Academic malpractice includes plagiarism, to take and use another person’s thoughts, writing etc. and to present as one’s own. Plagiarism includes such acts as not detailing any or all relevant information concerning a published (or any form of information dissemination) author’s work as well as using the work of a fellow participant or participants from the same course.

While it is acceptable to discuss problems and share ideas, these ideas should be applied to the problem/assignment (etc.) by yourself to achieve your own solution.

Substantiated plagiarism or cheating in a formative assessment will result in at least the loss of ALL marks in that component of the subject AND possible exclusion from the course.

Where cheating is found for an element of the assessment for a subject then that element of the assessment may be marked down or failed. There could be five outcomes:

1. 1. If the student is marked down then this will be on the basis of marking the achievement taking into account the knowledge and skills displayed and discounting any possible unfair advantage.

1. 2. If the student fails in the assessment then the student will have to undertake a further assessment (as a first re-sit) for that element where the highest mark achievable will be a ‘Pass’ grade. The required second assessment does not have to be in the same format as the first.

1. 3. It may also be considered that the student will not be allowed to be passed on that subject even though the aggregate mark taking into account a failed element could be a pass. If a student fails a subject as a result of this penalty then the subject will have to be retaken in the normal way. Penalties cannot be applied to the new course.

1. 4. For more serious cases, the student may be required to take the re-sit as a second resit, thus failure of the re-sit would result in failure of the subject. If a student fails a subject as a result of this penalty then the subject will have to be retaken in a normal way. Penalties cannot be applied to the new course.

In extreme cases the student may be denied the opportunity for any re-sit which would then result in failure of the subject. If a student fails a subject as a result of this penalty then the subject will have to be retaken in the normal way. Penalties will not be applied to the new course.

Student Code of Conduct

General Conduct

ERCI is committed to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct as an integral part of our mission in providing a quality-learning environment and services. To achieve this goal, ERCI relies on each staff member and participant’s ethical behavior, honesty, integrity and good judgment. Respect for each individual’s rights is of paramount importance and accountability for his or her actions and reflects great future leadership qualities.

The rules lay down below is to ensure that no damage or defacement to ERCI’s property on any other establishment or body visited in the course of classes. The participant and staff shall not act in a manner that is prejudicial to the comfort and convenience of others or is detrimental to the proper conduct of ERCI or its classes. The following conduct is unacceptable within the school and we would need your kind cooperation to make learning at ERCI an enriching and enjoyable experience:

Definition of Misconduct

1. Violate any Code of conduct/ participant discipline rules or policies.
2. Willfully disrupting any teaching, study, assessment or other activities of the administration of the school.
3. Willfully obstructing any employee of the school in the performance of his or her duties.
4. Willfully damaging or wrongfully dealing or theft of any property under the control of the school; any property on the school premises; or property on a location where a participant is present under the auspices of the school.
5. Unauthorised entry into; unauthorised use of; misuse of or unauthorised behavior within such as smoking, consuming any alcoholic drinks or food without the school authorization, property of the school.
6. Disobeying, without reasonable cause, any instruction of an employee of the school, including failing to leave any premise or part of a premise when directed to do so.
7. Withholding relevant information or furnishing false or misleading information for purposes connected with academic progression or enrolment or proposed enrolment as a participant, whether such withholding or furnishing of information takes place before or after the person becomes a participant of the programme.
8. Acting dishonestly or unfairly with respect to:

• • the preparation or presentation of any essay, project, thesis or other work to be assessed; or
  • Any examination as required by the programme conducted within or outside the premises of the school.
  • Allowing another person to attend classes on their behalf for online classes.
  • Does an act or omission that may endanger the safety or health of any person.
  • Physical/verbal assaults or attempts to assault any person.

9. Sale or knowing possession of dangerous drugs or restricted dangerous drugs within the premise of the school.
10. Engaging is any form of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment to any staff and students of ERCI, any associated guest of ERCI or any persons within the premises of the campus.
11. Engaging is any form of discrimination towards any staff and students of ERCI, any associated guest of ERCI or any persons within the premises of the campus.
12. Engaged in any form of bullying, including cyber bullying (as well as any acts that contradict cyber responsibility) that involve any staff and students of ERCI.

Course Conduct

ERCI requires all participants to:

1. Make themselves familiar with, and abide by, the regulations as stated in the Course Handbook.
2. Make themselves familiar with and comply with the requirements of their programme of studies.
3. Study diligently, attend timetabled classes as required, submit assignments on time and notify ERCI in case of difficulties.
4. Provide accurate information to enable the maintenance of proper records and keep ERCI informed of changes.
5. Pay all fees by the specified date and meet all outstanding debts, where these exist.

Proceedings of Misconduct

1. All employees of the school are authorized with general powers of jurisdiction. All employees can choose to exercise rectification actions for any alleged act of misconduct on the part of a participant or any person within the premise of the school or refer the case to the appointed authorities with specific powers of jurisdiction usually managerial level and above.
2. Any misconduct of participants may be referred to our Academic Director.
3. Our Academic Director reserves the right to suspend or expel any misconduct participants from their course of study.

ERC Institute has strict policies to any form of harassment, which will include Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and Bullying. Through this policy the school aims to provide an environment that is safe and free from sexual harassment and other harassment, discrimination and bullying. ERC Institute is committed to ensuring a safe and conducive learning environment for all students.

Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct

The primary law that deals with sexual harassment in Singapore is the Protection from Harassment Act. This Act criminalises the behaviour of intentionally causing harassment, alarm, or distress to others, and it specifically includes sexual harassment.

Sexual Harassment is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favours or acts of a sexual nature. It covers various behaviours, from offensive comments or jokes to unwanted sexual advances. It applies to any context, whether online or offline.

Sexual Misconduct is any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. It can occur in person, online (for example, by email, messages or on social media), by letter, telephone or text, or otherwise. Sexual Misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• • Rape, i.e. sex without consent, as defined within the Section 375(1) of the Penal Code
  • Sexual assault: sexual touching of another person without their consent; or engaging, or attempting to engage in a sexual act with another individual without consent; or any unwanted physical sexual advances.
  • Sexual harassment: unwanted conduct of a sexual nature which creates (or could create) an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for others, including making unwanted remarks of a sexual nature.
  • Exposing or inappropriately showing intimate parts of the body to another person, in person or through online means.
  • Recording intrusive, intimate or explicit images or recordings of a person without their consent.
  • Sharing intrusive, intimate or explicit images or recordings with third parties without consent.
  • Implied or open threats, intimidation, or promising payment or benefits in kind to gain sexual favours or gratification.
  • Arranging or participating in events which may reasonably be assumed to cause degradation and humiliation to other people, for example, those who have experienced sexual violence, such as inappropriately themed social events or initiations.

Consent is where a person willingly agrees to something, and that person has both the freedom and the capacity to make their own decision. In particular:

• • Silence, or a failure to say no or otherwise resist, is not consent.
  • Consent cannot be assumed on the basis of a previous sexual experience or previously given consent. Each new sexual act requires a re-confirmation of consent.
  • Once given, consent may be withdrawn at any time, including during a sexual act.
  • A person cannot give consent if they do not have capacity to consent. A person may not have capacity to consent due to their age, or due to a mental or developmental disability, or because of intoxication (e.g. being drunk or on drugs). A person that is asleep, not fully conscious (e.g. unconscious, semi-conscious, or in a state of intermittent consciousness), or in any other state of unawareness does not have capacity to consent.
  • A person’s consent is not valid if they have been coerced, forced, threatened, intimidated, misled or pressured into doing something, expressly or otherwise. Lying to a person about a sexual act, for example by saying you will wear protection and then failing to do so, may also void consent.
  • An imbalance of power can undermine consent. Given the inherent imbalance of power in the academic context, ERC Institute strongly discourages intimate relationships of any kind between staff and students. Such relationships (be it if the relationship existed prior to their involvement at ERCI or developed while within ERCI capacity) should be declared to ERC Institute so that the ERC Institute can make arrangements in advance to protect its integrity in the facilitation of its operations as well as protecting the parties involved from future accusations of misconduct or unfairness.

Reporting Sexual Misconduct

If you have suffered a sexual assault, sexual misconduct, or sexual harassment, or if you have concerns about a person or a situation, please raise the matter;

1. 1. to any ERCI staff that you feel most comfortable highlighting your concerns to.
   2. to your respective programme managers
   3. directly to the Assistant Director (Academic Operations & Student Services)

ERC Institute and its staff are trained to treat such matters seriously and will respond promptly and sensitively to any formal complaints or informal complaints from its initial disclosure to its formalisation and action stage.

• • The “Incident Officer” is the first person that you have disclosed your case to.
  • The “Incident Officer” will maintain confidentiality and upon the student’s request/behalf may highlight it to the following contact person;

1. 1. 1. Student disclosure on any Student – Assistant Director (Student Services)
      2. Student disclosure on any Staff – Human Resources Manager

• • The “Incident Officer” will be involved throughout the entire process, from the disclosure stage to action stage.

Outcomes

The outcome resulting from the disclosure of any sexual misconduct (depending on the severity of the misconduct) may generally be addressed in one or a combination of the following ways:

• • Informal resolution by direct communication
  • Formal resolution;
  • Lodging a complaint with the local authorities, which may include;

1. 1. 1. Protection Order: applying for a Personal Protection Order (PPO) under the POHA. This legal document issued by the Court restricts or prohibits the harasser from continuing their offensive behaviour.

1. 1. 2. Magistrate’s Complaint: In certain cases, victims can file a Magistrate’s Complaint for less severe forms of harassment. This will lead to a mediation process and, possibly, criminal proceedings.

1. 1. 3. Civil Lawsuit: If the sexual harassment has caused significant distress or loss to the victim, they may also consider filing a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator. This could potentially result in compensation for the victim.

Discrimination

Discrimination is any action, behaviour, or decision which results in the irrational exclusion, or preference, of an individual or group within the University community, based on race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, religion or other factors unrelated to their ability or potential.

Students should be culturally sensitive, tolerant and respectful towards each other, taking into consideration the workplace environment and Singapore’s multi-culturalism.

Bullying

Bullying may be characterised as offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means intended to undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure an individual. While bullying is normally characterised by a pattern of behaviour, a single incident of a grievous nature could be considered as bullying behaviour. Bullying may occur physically or online, especially via social media channels. Bullying is to be distinguished from the legitimate exercise of any staff discharging their duties where these responsibilities are carried out in a respectful, reasonable and appropriate manner.

Reporting Discrimination/Bullying

If you have suffered from discrimination or bullying or have witness your fellow school mates being discriminated or bullied, please highlight this to;

1. 1. to your respective programme managers
   2. or directly to the Assistant Director (Academic Operations & Student Services)

Outcomes

The outcome resulting from the disclosure of any discrimination or bullying may generally be addressed in one or a combination of the following ways:

• • Informal resolution by direct communication
  • Formal resolution;

Results of all ERCI course assessment and examinations shall be finalised by the Examination Board.  The final results will be sent to the students via email. Results will be released within 4 weeks after the last day of class or assessment, whichever is earlier.

Students should not solicit any information before the release date from their lecturers or any ERC Institute staff. The Institute will also not release any examination results over the phone.

For results pertaining to University Partner programmes, the results will be released via the University’s portal after the respective University’s Examination Boards have convened and approved the results

The window for all appeals is open, for a period of two weeks, from the date of the release of the final results. Students who wish to appeal upon receiving the final results should fill up an Appeal form and submit them to their respective Programme Managers. Any late request or any other appeals outside the appeals window will not be processed.

There will be a fee of S$60.00 (exclusive of GST) payable, upon submission of an appeal. The fee is non-refundable.

All appeals will be highlighted to the Appeal Board. Students will know the outcome of their appeals, within 4 weeks from the submission of the appeal form. A session will be arranged between the school and the student, to inform them of the outcome.

For appeals regarding partner University programmes, the appeal will follow the appeals policy of the respective University.

The official certificate and transcript will be issued by ERC Institute upon the completion of the Certificates, Diploma and Advanced Diploma programmes.  The turnaround time is approximately 6 – 8 weeks. Please note that the certification and transcript will be withheld if participants have outstanding fees or required documents with ERCI.

The official certificate and transcripts will be issued by the respective University Partners upon the completion of the undergraduate and post-graduate programmes. The turnaround time is approximately 6 – 8 weeks from the date of the Board of Examiners (BOE).

The certificate and transcript will be sent for processing upon receiving the Request for Certificate form.

For replacement of certificates and transcripts for students who have graduate kindly refer to Replacement of Certificates and Transcripts.

ERC Institute is committed to providing efficient channels for students to provide feedback or/and to seek resolution for any disputes or grievances in a systematic and impartial manner.

A feedback/complaint may arise from any aspect of the student’s educational experience which they believe to be unwarranted, unreasonable or irrational. This includes unsatisfactory services such as abrupt changes to schedule, delays in assessment results/awarding certificates and poor teaching quality.

Students will have to take note that the University or ERC Institute policies and procedures will take precedence over the dispute resolution process in relation to matters pertaining to student discipline and academic disagreements.

Click here for the Dispute Resolution Policy
Please refer to the following steps which would assist you in the course of provision of feedback and if need be, the resolution of disputes and/or grievances.

The entire process should not take more than 21 working days.

Significant efforts will be placed in seeking a solution for your disputes or grievances. At ERCi, we care to make a difference.

Course Transfer & Course Withdrawal Policy and Procedure
a. Please click here for course transfer and withdrawal policy
b. Please click here for course transfer procedure
c. Please click here for course withdrawal procedure

Refund Policy & Procedure
a. Please click here for refund policy
b. Please click here for refund procedure

Course Deferment Policy & Procedure
a. Please click here for course deferment policy
b. Please click here for course deferment procedure