eProfessionalism

EProfessionalism is the way you engage yourself online in relation to your profession, including attitudes, actions, and your adherence to relevant professional codes of conduct (University of Edinburgh).

As an eProfessional you will need and value digital literacies as the capabilities which fit someone for living, learning and working in a digital society.

What is Professionalism and is it different to eProfessionalism?

Professionalism includes a variety of personal qualities and behaviours that demonstrate commitment to effective performance in a given job. Commitment and confidence, responsibility and dependability, honesty and ethics, and appearance and professional presence are central professional characteristics. eProfessionalism focuses only on the online context and can be considered a sub-group of professionalism. Read more about professionalism in Characteristics of Professionalism - Career Trend.

Characteristics of professionalism and eProfessionalism

Intangible values shared by both professionals and eProfessionals are:

• integrity
• reputation
• honesty
• respect
• accountability
• respectful attitude
• high degree of self-regulation.

Professional associations and accreditation bodies

Many professional bodies and accreditation bodies have published codes of conduct which include ethical topics such as:

• confidentiality
• use of images
• professional obligations to various groups including children, indigenous people, patients, clients and psychologists
• codes of ethics e.g. for teachers, social workers.

Workplaces

Some workplaces do not have a formal code of professionalism but will have unwritten rules covering a professional attitude and behaviour . Workplaces, such as UQ, have a Policy and Procedures Library which govern guidelines, forms and behaviours.

The Australian Government has a website, Policies, procedures and processes, designed to help businesses identify and design their own policies.