Code of Conduct

Purpose of the Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct details the level of professional conduct expected by the Qigong Academy and applies to everyone who chooses to work with the Qigong Academy either as a student, teacher or visiting lecturer.

The Qigong Academy (hereafter known as the Academy) is dedicated to developing and supporting a community of Qi Gong teachers who embody the qualities laid out in this code of conduct. Its purpose is to provide clear guidance on the expected level of behaviour and conduct in five areas: standards of practice, responsibility to students, responsibility to colleagues, responsibility to the Academy, and professional integrity.

Standards of Practice

Members of the Academy are expected to:

• Always ensure that the environment in which you teach is safe for your students. This includes their personal safety and the conditions of the physical environment in which students are working, so a basic risk assessment process should be undertaken. If the student is a vulnerable adult or a young person under 18, and you are not authorised to work directly with this type of student, involve a professional chaperone or their parent or guardian so your work is supervised.
• Ensure that the practice being taught is appropriate and safe for students, teachers, colleagues and members of the general public.
• Treat students, colleagues and members of the general public with respect and dignity. Acknowledge and value differences. Be aware of, and show respect for, cultural diversity.
• Only use Qi Gong forms and techniques that you have been sanctioned to teach.

Responsibility to Students

Members of the Academy who teach Qi Gong classes shall:

• Prepare and teach their Qi Gong classes within the guidelines of the safe and effective teaching system they have been trained to use.
• Continue their personal development in order to maintain and improve form, understanding, awareness and professional conduct.
• Respect and practise professional boundaries, being careful to maintain appropriate and ethical relationships with all students and clients.
• Treat all students with equal respect, ensuring no favouritism is practised or demonstrated.
• Respect students’ cultural, spiritual, sexual and religious diversity in all respects.
• Respect personal and confidential information disclosed by students.
• Ensure that individuals’ physical, emotional and other limitations are recognised and treated with respect and understanding.
• Consult with mentors and knowledgeable professionals when such consultations are needed.
• Refer students to their health professional when concerns arise that cannot be addressed as a direct result of their training.

Responsibility to Colleagues

As a colleague and member of the Academy you are expected to:

• Speak positively and kindly of other instructors.
• Respect personal boundaries and established relationships between instructors and their students. Offer guidance to a colleague if asked.
• Provide accurate descriptions of colleagues’ training and related qualifications.
• Represent yourself and others honestly and fairly in all advertising and promotional materials.
• Participate proactively within the community of teachers fostered by the Academy.

Responsibility to the Academy

As a member of the Academy you are expected to:

• Respect the property of the Academy, both physical and intellectual, and not share, publish, broadcast or distribute it without express written consent.
• Continue to study and develop your Qi Gong practice.
• Maintain your membership of the Academy.
• Pass on information to your students about the training offered by the Academy in such a way as not to limit students’ potential to develop their Qi Gong practice.

Professional Integrity

Members of the Academy demonstrate integrity and professionalism by:

• Describing themselves as Qi Gong teachers in an honest and accurate way in all respects.
• Presenting a positive image to their community.
• Supporting the goals and positive intentions of the Academy.
• Always being prepared to provide evidence of their qualifications and professional indemnity insurance.
• Within the UK, providing a recent and up-to-date DBS check when undertaking regulated activity relating to children or adults as defined by the Disclosure and Barring Service.
• Within the UK, storing student records and any other confidential personal data about clients or students in a way that is compliant with the Data Protection Act 2018 — controlled access, secure storage, and no sharing of data with third parties without the person’s express permission.
• Outside the UK, storing those records in a way that is compliant with the relevant data protection rules of the teacher’s stated home country.

Review

The Academy is committed to reviewing this Code of Conduct on a regular basis, with the aim of improving and clarifying the expected conduct so as to uphold the highest professional standards. When reviewing it, all aspects of its content are open to review and possible adjustment.

Any amendments will be formally agreed by the Academy and communicated to all relevant parties before the updated version is published.

This document is dated January 2026.