Europe needs ongoing efforts to promote research integrity

Transcription

1 Europe needs ongoing efforts to promote research integrity What LERU universities contribute Katrien Maes, LERU chief policy officer University of Helsinki Philosophy and history of open science conference 30 November

2 21 European research-intensive universities committed to the values of high quality teaching within an environment of internationally competitive research. Members (II) Influence policy in Europe Develop best practice Relevance for all RIUs Founded2 in

3 LERU facts and figures + 550,000 students + 50,000 PhD students 55,000 academic staff 55,000 non-academic staff + 12,000 PhD degrees / year M EU projects / year + 5 BN total research budget + 20% of ERC grants + 55,000 MA degrees / year Nobel Prizes & Field Medals

4 Economic impact

5 Mission and activities Encourage education through an awareness of the frontiers of human understanding Foster the creation of new knowledge through basic research as the ultimate source of innovation in society Promote research across a broad front, which creates a unique capacity to respond to new opportunities and problems. ü Policy development and advocacy ü Publication of papers, reports, notes, ü Events and meetings in Brussels ü Exchange of experience and good practice ü Institutional reflection ü Communities, working groups, expert groups, 5

6 LERU key messages RIUs represent one of the few trump cards in Europe s hand in the fierce competition for leading edge research and talent. Comprehensive RIUs have a unique capacity to reconfigure their efforts to address interdisciplinary, societal challenges, develop deep understanding in a broad setting, organise and lead the necessary science-society dialogue. RIUs must be valued on the basis of the totality of their enterprise and must not be seen as supermarkets providing goods on demand.

7 LERU Expert Group on Research Integrity Set up in 2011 First chair Dr. Glenn Swafford (Oxford), followed by Prof. Ton Hol (Utrecht) seven members Remit to reflect on key issues and possible actions for policy development and advocacy, mutual learning, sharing experiences or resources and undertaking awareness raising or training activities Help to support our discussions at EU level Report to the Vice-Rectors Research

8 LERU Expert Group: Activities Conference calls and larger meetings (2012 Oxford, 2014 Utrecht, 2016 Lund) 2014 Doctoral summer school in Helsinki Next meeting: February 2017 in Barcelona (data) EG > Practice Group Some key topics: Definitions and principles Codes of conduct Handling allegations of misconduct H2020

9 Comparative analysis of Codes of Conduct within LERU Approach: 1. Policy level of development of the CoC 2. Content of the CoC 3. Accessibility of the CoC on the university websites 4. Appointing responsibility 5. Promotion of the CoC 6. Implementation of the CoC

10 1. Policy level of development of CoC: Findings: Clear tendency within LERU-universities to refer to National/European codes Often made concrete in proper rules and statements within university Good practices: Comparative analysis of Codes of Conduct within LERU Clearly establishing source of CoC and its connection to the institutional mission (e.g. as integrated part of the institutions mission)

11 2. Content of the CoC: Comparative analysis of Codes of Conduct within LERU Findings: much variation distinction between value-based versus normativebased approach distinction between proactive, preventive and reactive approach: Proactive: focus on promoting high ethical standards Preventive: focus on preventing misconduct Reactive: focus on handling allegations of misconduct

12 Approach: Comparative analysis of Codes of Conduct within LERU 1. Policy level of development of the CoC 2. Content of the CoC 3. Accessibility of the CoC on the university websites 4. Appointing responsibility 5. Promotion of the CoC 6. Implementation of the CoC

13 Handling allegations of misconduct Responsibility of universities and other RPOs Transparent and professonial procedures Easy access e.g. ombudsperson Not ad hoc Also protect whistleblowers

14 At the EU level Luxembourg Presidency: Council Conclusions on RI (Dec/2015) EC key actions: ü H Article 34 of MGA: revised Jul/ stronger emphasis on research integrity and clarify obligations of participants LERU: welcome, but avoid excessive regulation ü Fund new RI activities in H2020: aim at developing training schemes/material ( train the trainers ) WP2017 SwafS 14M euro ü Reinforce cooperation with national integrity bodies ENRIO (grant Sep/2016) coherent approach dealing with misconduct professionalism European community best practice and mutual learning ü Modernise European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (with ALLEA

15 LERU on H2020 LERU about future H2020 grant agreements: Universities have own code or adopt a national or European code Take responsibility for dealing with misconduct Respond promptly to concerns Keep EC informed of case LERU IE H2020 paper October 2016 EC please: Ø Accept nationally accepted and audited institutional practice > extend to RI and ethics Ø Build in proportionality checks Ø Set up a database with good practice for applicants

16 European Code of Conduct LERU has provided extensive input in August 2016 New code should/could be a useful, recognised reference document for FP projects New draft code: vis shorter vhas a better focus on and description of good research practice vhas less on misconduct (but definitons problematic) Further input: 25/11/2016 8/12/2016 Adoption in early 2017

17 Open Science Policy Platform The way we do science is changing fast, because: Digitisation Data availability Need for transparency and reproducibility Need to better connect with society and innovation Need to tackle grand challenges (e.g. UN Millennium Development Goals) Moedas: OS priority - openness, excellence and impact OSPP: catalyse the transition towards OS dynamic stakeholder-driven mechanism advise EC and support policy implementation

18 Where to start to effect the System Change: 8 priorities of the Open Science Agenda 1. Reward system 2. Altmetrics on quality and impact 3. Changing publishing models 4. FAIR open data 5. Open Science Cloud 6. Research integrity 7. Citizen Science 8. Open education and skills 18

19 Final thoughts from universities Universities can/do/should on research integrity: Make expectations clear Foster discussion Provide structured training opportunities Encourage support and mentoring Review and report annually on actions taken to foster research integrity Work on and embrace research integrity in open science

20 A few references LERU press release on research integrity (September 2015 ) fforts%20to%20promote%20research%20integrity.pdf LERU IE H2020 paper (October 2016) 0_final.pdf Doctoral summer school UH (2014) 4th World Conference on Research Integrity (2015) Conference proceedings Springer (open access) OSPP

21 Questions and contact Linked-in League of European Research Universities (LERU) Minderbroedersstraat Leuven - BELGIUM 21 21