34 Ethics in Higher Education: Values-driven Leaders for the Future
Trust in institutions and people is of specific importance in four
sectors of each society because they are pillars for impartial opinion,
truth and the promotion of the common good over individual interests:
the judicial system, the media, educational institutions and religious
institutions. Within these sectors, the leadership and governance
structures hold a special responsibility.
2.3 Why a Global and Contextual Ethical Culture
is Needed
Ethical, values-driven behaviour is needed in all societies. But in a
globalized world, common values are needed since this world is highly
interconnected and interdependent, linked by trade, information and
communication technologies, fast social media, the free trade of goods
and partially free movement of people. Global interaction needs a
common set of values such as a sense of justice, fairness and peace and
virtues such as respect and integrity. Without this common set of values
with trust as the condition for exchange cooperation is not possible.