Quality assurance: Academic integrity

A fundamental prerequisite for good quality research and education is integrity. Within research, this means following principles of good research practice, which requires both preventive measures and a legally sound system for handling deviations. Within education, it requires corresponding efforts to prevent and deal with cheating and plagiarism in assessments. Students should also have the opportunity to witness good research practices during their education.

The most important contributions to integrity in research and education occur in the University’s academic environments. Misconduct, cheating and plagiarism are prevented through a living quality and seminar culture with transparency and peer feedback. Preventive measures also involve initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of good research practices and what this means in practice.

Integrity in research

The Staff Portal has a web page about research ethics with information on ethical reviews and permits, tools, guidelines and where to turn for advice. An adviser to the Vice-Chancellor has been appointed to lead and coordinate university-wide initiatives related to good research practice. In the Staff Portal you can find information on who to contact for advice on questions regarding good research practice.

Misconduct in research refers to serious deviations from good research practice in the form of fabrication, falsification or plagiarism, whether intentional or through negligence, when planning, conducting or reporting research.

Deviations from good research practice are to be prevented wherever possible, and suspected deviations are to be handled in a uniform and legally sound manner. Procedures for investigating deviations from good research practice are specified in the University’s Guidelines on the procedure in the event of suspected deviations from good research practice. It is important that these issues are discussed in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes to prevent misconduct in research, as well as in professional development courses for the University’s teachers and researchers.

If suspicions of misconduct or other deviations from good research practice arise, these are to be reported to the Vice-Chancellor. If judged necessary, the Vice-Chancellor will submit the case to Uppsala University’s Board for Investigation of Misconduct in Research. The board examines cases to determine if a complaint should be filed with the national Board for Assessment of Research Misconduct.

Integrity in education

Uppsala University has clear procedures, both for preventing cheating among students and for handling suspected cases of cheating. The Routine for dealing with suspected deceptive conduct in examinations clarifies Uppsala University’s procedures for dealing with such matters as plagiarism, unauthorised collaboration, unauthorised aids, and changes to graded exams. Information for students on cheating and plagiarism is available on Uppsala University’s website. Uppsala University uses Ouriginal (formerly Urkund), a system for monitoring plagiarism. After a case has been investigated at the request of the Vice-Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor decides whether the case will be closed without action, whether to issue a warning to the student, or whether to send the case to the University Disciplinary Board.

Staff Disciplinary Board

The Staff Disciplinary Board at Uppsala University handles and decides on termination of employment and, in some cases, of assignments because of personal circumstances (notice of termination and summary dismissal), disciplinary liability for neglect of duty, reporting for prosecution, etc.