Student Code of Conduct

Last Updated: August 19, 2026

Introduction

Meridian Skills Academy (MerSkills) is committed to creating a professional, respectful, inclusive and supportive learning environment where every learner can develop knowledge, skills and confidence.

The Student Code of Conduct establishes the standards of behaviour expected from everyone participating in MerSkills programmes and learning activities.

The Code applies to learners interacting with MerSkills through online classes, learning platforms, assessments, discussion forums, communication channels, events and other activities associated with the Academy.

By enrolling in a MerSkills programme, learners agree to conduct themselves in accordance with this Code.

1. Purpose of the Code

The purpose of this Code is to:

• Promote a respectful and professional learning environment.
• Establish clear expectations for learner behaviour.
• Protect the dignity, safety and rights of learners, instructors and staff.
• Encourage responsible participation in online learning.
• Promote integrity, accountability and professionalism.
• Provide a framework for addressing unacceptable conduct.

The Code is intended to support a positive learning community rather than simply establish disciplinary rules.

2. Respect and Professional Behaviour

Learners are expected to treat other members of the MerSkills community with courtesy, dignity and respect.

Learners should:

• Communicate respectfully with instructors, staff and fellow learners.
• Listen to and consider different perspectives.
• Use professional and appropriate language.
• Respect reasonable differences in opinions and experiences.
• Conduct themselves in a manner appropriate for a professional learning environment.

Disagreement is acceptable. Personal attacks, intimidation, harassment and abusive behaviour are not.

3. Inclusive Learning Environment

MerSkills welcomes learners from different backgrounds, locations, cultures, professional experiences and educational levels.

Learners must not engage in discriminatory, degrading or abusive behaviour toward another person.

MerSkills does not tolerate conduct that unlawfully discriminates against or harasses another person.

All learners are expected to contribute to an environment in which others can participate in learning without fear of intimidation or mistreatment.

4. Online Learning Etiquette

Because MerSkills delivers professional education online, learners are expected to observe appropriate digital-learning etiquette.

This includes:

• Joining online sessions on time where attendance is required.
• Using appropriate names and profile information.
• Keeping microphones muted when not speaking where appropriate.
• Avoiding unnecessary disruption during live sessions.
• Using discussion forums and chat channels appropriately.
• Remaining respectful during online discussions.
• Avoiding excessive or irrelevant messages.
• Following instructions provided by instructors and programme administrators.

Learners should remember that online communication is part of the professional learning environment.

5. Communication Standards

All communications with MerSkills should be professional and respectful.

This applies to communication through:

• Email;
• Learning management systems;
• Discussion forums;
• Online classrooms;
• Messaging platforms;
• Social-media channels used for official learning activities; and
• Other communication channels officially provided by MerSkills.

Learners should avoid threatening, abusive, insulting, obscene or deliberately disruptive communications.

6. Harassment and Bullying

MerSkills does not tolerate harassment or bullying.

Prohibited behaviour may include:

• Repeated unwanted or intimidating communication;
• Threatening behaviour;
• Humiliation or deliberate degradation;
• Persistent personal attacks;
• Cyberbullying;
• Sexual harassment;
• Unwanted discriminatory remarks;
• Deliberate intimidation; or
• Other serious conduct that creates a hostile or unsafe learning environment.

Where concerns are reported, MerSkills may investigate and take appropriate action.

7. Threats and Violence

Threats of violence, physical intimidation or credible threats against learners, instructors, staff or other persons are prohibited.

This includes threats made through:

• Messages;
• Emails;
• Social media;
• Online classrooms;
• Discussion forums; or
• Any other communication channel connected with MerSkills activities.

Serious threats may be reported to appropriate authorities where necessary or legally required.

8. Academic and Professional Integrity

Learners are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all academic and professional activities.

This includes being truthful about:

• Identity;
• Qualifications;
• Application information;
• Programme participation;
• Academic work;
• Assessment submissions; and
• Other information provided to MerSkills.

Detailed requirements concerning plagiarism, cheating, unauthorised assistance, artificial intelligence and other forms of academic misconduct are addressed in the Academic Integrity Policy.

9. Responsible Use of Technology

Learners must use MerSkills technology, learning platforms and digital resources responsibly.

Learners must not:

• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to another person’s account.
• Share another learner’s login credentials.
• Attempt to interfere with learning platforms.
• Upload malicious software.
• Deliberately disrupt online learning systems.
• Circumvent reasonable security controls.
• Use Academy systems for unlawful purposes.
• Access or distribute content that violates applicable law or institutional policies.

10. Account Security

Where a learner is provided with an account or login credentials, the learner is responsible for keeping those credentials secure.

Learners must not knowingly allow another person to use their account.

If a learner suspects that their account has been compromised, they should notify MerSkills promptly.

Sharing an account may result in suspension of access or other appropriate action.

11. Learning Materials and Intellectual Property

MerSkills provides learning materials for the educational use of enrolled learners.

Learners must respect the intellectual property rights of MerSkills, instructors, authors, publishers and other rights holders.

Learners must not, without appropriate permission:

• Sell MerSkills course materials;
• Distribute restricted learning resources publicly;
• Upload proprietary course materials to unauthorised platforms;
• Claim another person’s educational content as their own;
• Remove copyright or ownership notices; or
• Use protected materials for unauthorised commercial purposes.

12. Privacy and Confidentiality

Learners should respect the privacy of other members of the MerSkills community.

Learners must not disclose another person’s private information without appropriate authority.

This includes information such as:

• Telephone numbers;
• Email addresses;
• Personal correspondence;
• Academic results;
• Private photographs;
• Identification information; or
• Other confidential information.

Learners should also avoid recording, photographing or distributing online classes or private learning discussions without appropriate permission.

13. Recording and Distribution of Classes

Live classes, workshops, webinars and other learning activities may contain information relating to instructors and fellow learners.

Learners must not record, reproduce, publish or distribute such sessions without permission from MerSkills and, where applicable, the relevant participants.

Unauthorised distribution of recordings or learning materials may violate privacy, intellectual-property or other rights.

14. Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence

MerSkills recognises that artificial intelligence can be a useful learning and professional-development tool.

Learners may use AI tools where permitted by the relevant programme or assessment requirements.

However, AI tools must not be used to misrepresent another person’s work as the learner’s own or to circumvent academic requirements.

Learners remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, legality and appropriateness of content they submit or publish.

Specific rules governing AI-assisted academic work are set out in the Academic Integrity Policy and relevant programme instructions.

15. Fraud and Misrepresentation

Learners must provide truthful information when interacting with MerSkills.

Prohibited conduct includes:

• Providing false identity information;
• Falsifying qualifications;
• Misrepresenting academic results;
• Using another person’s identity;
• Providing fraudulent documents;
• Manipulating academic records;
• Making fraudulent payment claims; or
• Deliberately providing misleading information to MerSkills.

Serious cases may result in withdrawal of admission, suspension, termination or referral to appropriate authorities where necessary.

16. Prohibited Activities

Learners must not use MerSkills platforms, services or learning activities to facilitate unlawful activity.

Examples may include:

• Fraud;
• Identity theft;
• Cybercrime;
• Unauthorised access to systems;
• Distribution of malicious software;
• Threats or intimidation;
• Harassment;
• Distribution of unlawful material; or
• Other activities prohibited by applicable law.

17. Conflict and Disagreement

Differences of opinion may occur in any learning environment.

Learners are encouraged to address disagreements constructively.

Where a disagreement arises, learners should:

1. Communicate respectfully with the person involved where appropriate.
2. Seek clarification before making assumptions.
3. Contact the relevant instructor or programme administrator where necessary.
4. Escalate unresolved concerns through the appropriate MerSkills channel.

Learners should not attempt to resolve disagreements through harassment, public humiliation, threats or retaliation.

18. Social Media

Learners are free to express their personal opinions on their own social-media accounts, subject to applicable law.

However, learners must not falsely represent themselves as authorised spokespersons or representatives of MerSkills.

Learners should also avoid publishing confidential information obtained through their participation in MerSkills programmes.

Where a learner publicly identifies themselves as a MerSkills learner, they are encouraged to communicate responsibly and avoid conduct that could reasonably be understood as an official statement on behalf of the Academy.

19. Professional Conduct

MerSkills aims to prepare learners for professional environments.

Learners are therefore encouraged to demonstrate:

• Responsibility;
• Punctuality;
• Accountability;
• Respect;
• Professional communication;
• Appropriate digital behaviour;
• Willingness to learn;
• Constructive participation; and
• Commitment to continuous improvement.

These behaviours contribute to a positive learning experience and support learners’ professional development.

20. Reporting a Concern

Learners who experience or witness serious misconduct are encouraged to report the matter to MerSkills.

Reports may concern:

• Harassment;
• Bullying;
• Threats;
• Discrimination;
• Fraud;
• Serious misconduct;
• Unauthorised access;
• Privacy violations; or
• Other conduct that may violate this Code.

Reports should be submitted through an official MerSkills communication channel.

Email: info@merskills.com

Where possible, provide relevant information such as the nature of the concern, date, persons involved and supporting evidence.

21. Confidentiality of Reports

MerSkills will handle reports responsibly and will take reasonable steps to protect information relating to a complaint or investigation.

However, complete confidentiality cannot always be guaranteed where disclosure is necessary to investigate the matter, protect individuals, comply with legal obligations or take appropriate action.

22. Protection Against Retaliation

MerSkills does not encourage retaliation against a person who raises a genuine concern or participates honestly in an investigation.

Retaliatory behaviour may itself constitute a violation of this Code.

However, knowingly making false allegations or deliberately providing fabricated information may also result in disciplinary action.

23. Investigation of Conduct Concerns

Where a concern is reported, MerSkills may review the available information and determine an appropriate response.

Depending on the circumstances, the process may include:

• Reviewing relevant records;
• Communicating with the persons involved;
• Requesting additional information;
• Reviewing digital communications or learning-platform records where legitimately necessary; and
• Taking appropriate institutional action.

The specific process may vary according to the seriousness and nature of the matter.

24. Possible Consequences

Where a learner is found to have violated this Code, MerSkills may take proportionate action.

Depending on the circumstances and seriousness of the conduct, possible measures may include:

• Informal guidance;
• Verbal or written warning;
• Required corrective action;
• Removal from a particular learning activity;
• Temporary restriction of platform access;
• Suspension from a programme;
• Withdrawal of admission;
• Termination of enrolment;
• Withholding of a certificate where permitted under applicable policies; or
• Referral to an appropriate authority where required or appropriate.

The action taken will depend on the circumstances of each case.

25. Serious Misconduct

Serious misconduct may result in immediate restriction or suspension of access while the matter is reviewed.

Serious misconduct may include:

• Credible threats;
• Violence;
• Serious harassment;
• Fraud;
• Identity impersonation;
• Significant privacy violations;
• Unauthorised access to systems;
• Deliberate cyber attacks;
• Serious academic misconduct;
• Theft or misuse of institutional property; or
• Other conduct presenting significant risk to individuals or the Academy.

26. Appeals and Review

Where MerSkills imposes a significant disciplinary measure, the learner may request a review where an appeal process is available.

An appeal should normally:

• Be submitted within the period communicated by MerSkills;
• Identify the decision being challenged;
• Explain the grounds for the appeal; and
• Include relevant supporting information.

MerSkills may establish additional procedures for particular programmes or circumstances.

27. Relationship With Other Policies

This Student Code of Conduct should be read together with other applicable MerSkills policies, including:

• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Academic Integrity Policy
• Refund & Cancellation Policy
• Programme-specific academic and assessment requirements

Where another policy establishes more specific requirements for a particular matter, the specific policy may apply.

28. Changes to the Code

MerSkills may update this Student Code of Conduct from time to time to reflect changes in our educational environment, institutional practices, technology or applicable requirements.

The latest version will be published on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date.

Learners will be expected to comply with the version applicable to their participation, subject to any applicable legal requirements.

29. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Student Code of Conduct or wish to report a conduct concern, please contact:

Meridian Skills Academy
21 Ikot Ekwere Itam Road
West Itam District
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
520113, Nigeria
West Africa

Email: info@merskills.com
Phone: +234 802 170 9686
Website: merskills.com

Our Shared Commitment

A strong learning community depends on the contribution of everyone.

MerSkills expects learners, instructors and staff to contribute to an environment built on respect, integrity, responsibility, inclusion and professionalism.

By learning together and treating one another with dignity, we help create an environment where every learner has the opportunity to learn, apply and grow.

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