Research integrity and ethics, reliable research results, teaching and learning
RI in Curricula
This is an up-to-date map to secondary school and university curricula that currently include research integrity (RI) and research ethics (RE). It contains a collection of curricula in which RI/RE or associated fields are mentioned within the Path2Integrity partner countries Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Poland and Spain.
Please note that the collection comprises a selection of case studies that do not replace comprehensive research. However, these European examples will give you a picture of how RI is being addressed in curricula, as well as how and to what extent schools and universities are currently aware of the topic. You are invited to identify possible gaps and engage in a discourse in order to emphasise the importance of RI and RE.
RI/RE examples in Spanish curricula
Secondary school level
Royal Decree states that in order to improve the quality of education, to achieve adequate performance of activities and to effectively solve complex problems, to acquire knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes that contribute to the achievement of the objectives of each phase of teaching and learning and to acquire competences, the basic curricula for secondary school diploma explicitly aims for students to understand the elements and fundamental proceedings of research and scientific methods.(cf. Royal Decree chapter III, article 25, objective j)
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For the Autonomous Region of Catalonia, an official document containing general rules to be applied in all Catalan schools, stipulates in Annex I, on general competencies to be acquired at secondary school in the section on competence in information management and treatment, that students must be aware of the ethical dimensions in the handling and use of information. To this end, they must learn the appropriate way to respect copyright, correctly identify the sources consulted and ethically use the information received.
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Keyword hits: authorship, information, research method
Bachelor's degree level
Psychology Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC)
A specific course on research design, techniques and methodology in Psychology during the first year of study teaches students the basic terminology of the various research modalities in psychology, familiarises them with the different methods and concepts of psychological research and introduces them to the philosophy of research, so that they learn to plan and structure research by choosing the most appropriate method, design and techniques.Psychology students should be able to critically read and analyse any report or scientific communication after completing this course.
Course description here
Keyword hits: research integrity, research method, authorship, data management, ethics, bioethics
Master's degree level
Observatory of Bioethics, University of Barcelona (UB)
In a master's programme in Bioethics and Law, students learn about global and integrative bioethics and its legal implications. They explore various problems within the debate on the fundamental questions of bioethics, using an interdisciplinary approach that combines philosophical, medical and scientific threads, as well as discussing the application of research and its legal treatment. They discuss and decide rationally on the significance of problems arising from bioethics and technology for society. The aim of the course is to train future professionals in bioethics and law who can respond to the growing need for experts in these fields.
Course description here
Keyword hits: research integrity, research method, authorship, data management, ethics, bioethics
Doctorate's degree
Faculty of Economics and Business, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM)
A special seminar on "Ethics and Integrity in Research and Publication" is organised by the Master and Doctoral Programme in Economics and Innovation Management at the Autonomous University of Madrid. The seminar covers the design and conduct of research, as well as various aspects of research integrity in academia, including lack of integrity, which is often manifested in fraud, data production and plagiarism, etc. This seminar emphasises that both researchers as well as society reflect an honest attempt to describe the world accurately and in an unbiased manner, and that this is critical in being able to trust research results as reliable.
Course description here
Keyword hits: research integrity
Doctorate's degree
Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF)
This is a compulsory course for PhD students in biomedicine and Masters students in bioinformatics, on the responsible conduct of research and good scientific practices. It has been going on since 1998 at the premises of the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), the largest biomedical research park in the south of Europe, and where the Department of Experimental and Health Sciences of the UPF is located. With about 120 students per year, the course aims to make the students reflect on how their actions may affect their research. It covers topics such as public trust in scientists and the responsibility this implies, open science and transparency, conflicts of interest, biases, ethical issues in research with humans and animals, good practice in data management and record keeping and the publication process.
Course description here
Keyword hits: research integrity, research ethics, data management, PhD course
RI/RE examples in German curricula
Secondary school level
Bavarian State Ministry for Education and Culture
At the advanced level in Bavarian secondary schools, research integrity is present in different contexts. A course on "Development and Socialisation" is intended to give students an insight into research practice. To this end, students in the 11th grade analyse a study on youth and identity research and familiarise themselves with concepts and methods of scientific surveys. They train their awareness of deliberation and are able to judge whether the results are adequately addressed in public discussion. Students are furthermore encouraged to use an example to develop the thematic focus of a study, the overall design and intention of the study, its methods (e.g. questionnaires, biographical portraits) and reception.
Course description here
An additional course offered in Applied Computer Science draws students deeper into the topic of data security and data protection. It is assumed that students have already encountered hese topics in the subject Nature and Technology when dealing with data sets. In this course, participants reflect on their knowledge from the previous course, while deepening their understanding of data security and data protection. The students are given insight into various technical procedures for storing and securing data on a long-term basis. Only students who have not previously participated in computer science classes are allowed to take part in this course.
Course description here
In German classes, students learn to plan, revise and design texts on their own during the 11th grade. When focusing on writing, they are asked to pay attention to correct quotation and to be able to discuss the text. In this regard, the curriculum for secondary schools in Bavaria states: "In both text-based and open discussions, [students] explore complicated questions in literature as well as debate current socio-political and ethical-philosophical problems. They clarify their own point of view and develop conceptually elaborate, clearly structured and well-formulated arguments. In writing, they practice and strengthen their skills by editing texts. In this way, they come to understand writing as a planned process". (translated by Lisa Häberlein)
Course description here
Keyword hits: research practice, research ethics, research methods, research data, data protection, academic writing, plagiarism, authorship, citation
Bachelor's degree level
Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University
The supplementary module to the Bachelor's programme in Environmental Sciences, under the title "Scientific Behavior: Practical, Legal, Social and Ethical Framework", combines introductory lectures with student seminar papers and broad discussion. The supplementary module gives the students the opportunity to individually profile and specialise in one or more subject-related interdisciplinary areas. A wide range of topics are covered weekly, such as applications for research funding, ethics of research conduct, genetic engineering (GenTG) and release, good laboratory practice, good manufacturing practice, publishing (plagiarism; original data), public relations work/outreach, stem cells and germline (Embryo Protection Act ESchG), environmental protection and sustainability, publications, scientific image processing as well as business planning. The broad range of topics provides students with a broad insight into the interrelationships, responsibilities and possibilities of research.
Course description here
Keyword hits: research integrity, research ethics, research practice, responsible research conduct, research funding
Master's degree level
Art. 55, Bavarian Higher Education Act
In the Bavarian Higher Education Act, it states that "[t]eaching and study shall prepare students for a profession and impart to them the required knowledge, skills and methods of their respective course of study in such a way as to enable them to carry out scientific or artistic work and to act responsibly in a liberal, democratic and social constitutional state". (cf. Bavarian Higher Education Act, Art. 55, 1, translated by Lisa Häberlein)
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Keyword hits: responsible research, research methods
Faculty of Social Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
The Master's Thesis Tutorial in the field of Sociology gives graduates the opportunity to present their thesis. In groups, students discuss the progress and the results of their research. These discussions focus on choosing a topic, choice of method, structure and layout, literature selection and interpretating the results. The lectures, which are held by the students, enable them to develop their own presentation skills as well as their ability to construct an argument. The subsequent discussion helps to reflect critically on one's own research process.
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Keyword hits: research procedures, research methods, research results
Doctorate degree
Graduate Centre, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
The Graduate Centre of FAU offers alternating seminars for doctoral students and post-docs, as well as interdisciplinary information events and seminars on key qualifications. One example is the seminar on good scientific practice, where participants are taught the basics of ethical conduct in research. Topics include good research practice, data documentation, data management, authorship and publication procedures, avoidance of plagiarism, correct handling of sources, as well as mentoring, conflicts of interest and research collaboration. The content and scope of this seminar is based on the central DFG memorandum "Securing Good Scientific Practice" (2013), the current "Statutes for Securing Good Scientific Practice and Dealing with Scientific Misconduct at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität-Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)" and the recommendations of the curriculum for courses on "Good Scientific Practice" in Natural Sciences and Medicine.
The list of courses includes a seminar on scientific publications and quality assessment in cooperation with the University Library Erlangen-Nürnberg, where participants get insight into what they need to pay attention to when publishing as a young researcher. Another example from the list is a workshop on research data management, in which doctoral students receive an introduction to the basics of research data management. Topics include organisation, protection, description of digital research data, data management requirements of research funding organisations and scientific journals, publication of research data and re-use of external research data.
List of courses and their descriptions here
Keyword hits: good research practice, data management, authorship, publication, plagiarism, mentoring
RI/RE examples in Danish curricula
Secondary school level
Ministry of Children and Education
At the secondary school level, there are no cross-cutting curricula on research integrity or research ethics. However, there is a general course on student training projects, which combines different scientific disciplines. In this course students examine and analyse a concrete problem depending on their choice of specialisation by using their knowledge, skills, and methods and including basic scientific theory (Vejledning Studieretningsprojektet – stx 2019 (pdf)). It is advised to introduce the students to proper citation and to referencing literature. Still, there are no requirements that students be introduced to ethical considerations related to their analysis before beginning.
Course description here under "Læreplan Studieretningsprojektet"
Keyword hits: Secondary school, research integrity, research ethics, individual project assignment
If ethical considerations are included in study programmes, they are taken up in the individual courses themselves e.g. biology, physics, chemistry, biotechnology. In the overall curricula developed by the Ministry of Children and Education, it is stated that biology courses (A,B,C-level) teach reflective competences in using knowledge and appropriate methods from the biological field to reflect on potential social, technological, environmental and ethical problems, and to develop and assess solutions (translated from Vejledning A,B og C – stx 2018 (pdf)).
Course description here under "Læreplan Studieretningsprojektet"
Keyword hits: reflective competences, individual courses, biology, ethical issues
Bachelor's degree level
In bachelor programmes, RI issues are integrated into the teaching of research methods. At the bachelor level, programmes seldom give RI much attention. A rough screening of bachelor programmes at different universities indicates that no RI courses were available for bachelor students.
Keyword hits: bachelor programme, undergraduate programme, research integrity, research methods
Master's degree level
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark
In some master's studies, RI and its wider ethical and professional challenges are emphasised. For instance, the principles of RI and their application to public health issues are covered in the public health ethics course of SDU’s Master of Science programme. The responsible conduct of research and the role of research ethics committees are also discussed in this course.
Course description here
Keyword hits: master programme, graduate programme, research integrity, research ethics, public health, responsible conduct of research, professional challenges
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen University
At Copenhagen University, the elective course on "Public Health in the Media" is an example of a reflective course that addresses RI issues connected to "the changing media landscape", where the students "connect the specific topic of public health communication to wider debates about trust, scientific expertise, and knowledge in an era of 'fake news' and social media".
Course description here
Keyword hits: master programme, undergraduate programme, elective course, public health, communication, media, trust, scientific expertise, fake news
Doctorate's degree
Roskilde University
Mandatory PhD programmes can vary slightly in content, e.g. the course "Introduction to Research Ethics and Integrity" by Roskilde University includes an introduction to research integrity including the philosophical basis of research ethics.
Course description here
Keyword hits: postgraduate programme, PhD course, research ethics, research integrity, philosophy
University of Southern Denmark
The Faculty of Health Sciences provides the PhD course "Responsible Conduct of Research". This course gives an overall introduction to research ethics as well as more practical knowledge on how to make a data management plan.
Course description here
Keyword hits: Postgraduate programme, PhD course, research ethics, research integrity, data management
Additional remarks
In Denmark, the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science published the Danish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (DCCRI) (Ministry of Higher Education and Science, 2014). This guideline is a combined effort across all Danish universities and higher-level institutions to develop a common framework for ensuring research integrity (RI) in higher education and in research.
The DCCRI is based on international guidelines (The Singapore Statement, The Montreal Statement, The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity). In regard to teaching, training, and supervision in the contexts of RI, the DCCRI states outlines the responsibility of universities in introducing the principles of RI within undergraduate (bachelor) and graduate (master’s) programmes. In PhD and postdoctoral programmes, the universities should include specific RI teaching and training as well as supervision.
Open PhD courses on the subject of responsible conduct of research are provided by the universities of Aarhus and Copenhagen and The University of Southern Denmark (SDU). It is mandatory for all PhD Students in Denmark to take a course on research ethics and integrity (also referred to in Denmark as responsible conduct of research).
RI/RE examples in Polish curricula
Secondary school level
Ministry of Education
In the national curriculum there is a specific subject dedicated to RI/RE issues in Poland, called "Ethics". Participation in this course is voluntary and there are schools where Ethics classes do not take place if there are no Ethics teachers available.
Secondary school students who participate in Ethics may be introduced to selected issues, depending on the head teacher. One of these topics is Ethics in Science and Technology, which enables students to deal with examples of appropriate and inappropriate use of new technologies. Information technology, for example, calls student's attention to the fact that progress in research and society is made through the acquisition of knowledge and fosters their ability to analyse selected moral problems related to research and technical progress (e.g. problems of data protection, cyber-violence, development of artificial intelligence, transhumanism).
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Keyword hits: introduction to Ethics, identity, subjectivity, moral development, creating statements about morality, self-education and knowledge of ethics, creating statements with an emphasis on correctness of one’s justifications)
Bachelor’s degree level
Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University
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Course description here
Keyword hits: bioethics, clinical ethics, ethics, ethical procedures in clinical trials and human research, ethical, social and legal conditions of exercising the medical profession
Master’s degree level
Faculty of Cognitive Science, Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University
At the Faculty of Cognitive Science, there is an obligatory course on "Research Ethics" for 1st year students that introduces them to the ethics of scientific research.The course addresses legal and ethical standards of scientific research, international and national regulations, as well as principles and criteria for the ethical evaluation of scientific research with human participation. This includes the principle of respect for the autonomy of research participants (the rule of informed consent, confidentiality, non-infringement of privacy), the principle of care for the benefit of the research participant (the requirement to avoid unjustified risks; the principle of balance in randomised clinical trials) or the principle of fair treatment of research participants (fairness in the selection of research participants, fair compensation for damage suffered by research participants).At the end of the semester, students know and understand the rules of scientific research, the ethical aspects involved and the legal requirements. They are able to identify ethical principles of scientific research and to present and discuss ethical controversies in connection with research activities. The students are ready to shape their own attitudes under the influence of the ideas presented, but without giving up intellectual independence or criticism.
Course description here
Keyword hits: general ethics and professional ethics, scientific research dilemmas, ethical principles of research procedures
Doctorate's degree
Department of Management, Poznań University of Economics and Business
For PhD students in the 3rd year of study, the participation in a course called "Ethics in scientific research and intellectual property protection" is obligatory.According to the presented educational programme, the course conveys the basics of knowledge in the field of ethical reflection on scientific practice while developing researchers' ethical and methodological self-awareness and professional ethics. It also focuses on increasing the awareness of copyright and intellectual property protection rules.
PDF available here
Keyword hits: general ethics and professional ethics, cognitive and instrumental norms / values, responsibility of the researcher, ethical principles of research procedures
RI/RE examples in Bulgarian curricula
Secondary school level
Ministry of Education and Science
According to the educational programme provided by Bulgaria’s Ministry of Education and Science, one of the modules for the philosophy-profiled high school students in their last year of secondary education is "Philosophy of Science". Some of the discussed topics include ethical values in science, authority, objectivity, and bioethics.
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Keyword hits: science, philosophy, skills, research, methodology
Bachelor’s degree level
Faculty of Philosophy and History, Plovdiv University ‘Paisii Hilendarski'
One of the obligatory courses for sociology students of the Faculty of Philosophy and History at Plovdiv University ‘Paisii Hilendarski' is "Biotechnologies - scientific, engineering and ethical problems". According to the curriculum, by the end of the semester the student should be able to recognise and intervene in social, economic and ethical problems caused by modern biotechnology.
PDF available here
Keyword hits: ethics, bioethics, science, skills, biotechnologies
Master’s degree level
Faculty of Philosophy, Sofia University
According to the web portal of the Sofia University’s Faculty of Philosophy, one of the master’s degree programmes, called "Integrative Bioethics", includes courses such as ethics, introduction to bioethics, reproductive ethics, medical ethics, social and ethical aspects of biotechnologies, bio law, justice and solidarity in medicine.
Course description here
Keyword hits: bioethics, ethics, research, science, integration
Doctorate’s degree
Faculty of Economics, University of National and World Economy
One of the requisites for a Doctorate’s degree in Economics from the University of National and World Economy is the "Methodology and Methods of Science Research." According to the curriculum, the course discusses ethics and moral values in science, principles, practices and case studies as well as formation, regulation and regimentation of science research principles.
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Keyword hits: research, science, ethics, moral, values