Research ethics

1. You must comply with both the rights and obligations set down in the Norwegian Act on Academic Freedom.
   
   
2. You must be conscious of the fact that honesty is an absolute condition for scientific work.
   
   
3. You must act in accordance with the ethical regulations applicable to your field of research.
   
   
4. You must give recognition to colleagues and sources of information that are of significance to your own research.
   
   
5. You must, provided it is possible, participate in a collegial community that communicates and analyses research methods and results.
   
   
6. You must be able to explain how you manage the funds that have been made available to you.
   
   
7. You must ensure that your scientific results are solid enough to support your conclusions and that raw data/source information for publications is available.
   
   
8. You must follow the rules for scientific publishing for your field.
   
   
9. You must allow for neutral dissemination of research: consequential thinking should include both possible benefits and possible ethical dilemmas.
   
   
10. You must maintain and further develop your scientific qualifications.
    
    

• Each individual researcher is responsible for conducting research in accordance with laws and regulations, as well as recognised research ethics practices, and for complying with the ten commandments for proper research ethics.
  
  
• Teachers are responsible for training students in recognised research ethics practices where relevant.
  
  
• Supervisors for student assignments are responsible for training their students in recognised research ethics practices and data protection in research.
  
  
• Research group leaders must ensure systematic consideration for research ethics and skills development (cf. applicable laws and regulations and recognised research ethics practices) in the research groups as part of quality follow-up.
  
  
• Heads of Department and Pro-Deans of R&D/AD are responsible for supervising and ensuring that research in their own units is conducted in accordance with laws and regulations and recognised research ethics practices. They will also follow up on and ensure that any non-conformities are rectified.
  
  
• The institution of Kristiania University College has a general responsibility for ensuring that systems and frameworks have been put in place to ensure that research can be conducted in line with recognised research ethics practices and in accordance with laws and regulations. The institution must ensure that academic employees have adequate research qualifications.
  
  
• The Research Ethics Committee (FEU in Norwegian) at Kristiania University College has the overall supervisory responsibility and manages any matters relating to nonconformities. The committee will also act as a driving force for research ethics considerations and skills development.

The Norwegian Research Ethics Act and regulations 

Kristiania University College is subject to:

• The Norwegian act on ethics and integrity in research (Research Ethics Act).
• Regulations on research ethics committees (Research Ethics Regulations).

Research Ethics Guidelines

Research at Kristiania University College must be conducted in accordance with:

• The general and field-specific research ethics guidelines that have been drawn up by The National Research Ethics Committees.
  
  
• The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity drawn up by All European Academies. 
  The European Commission uses these guidelines as the basis for research integrity in EU-funded research projects and as a model for compliance for research institutions and researchers across Europe.
  
  
• The Declaration of Helsinki (full text in English), which clarifies the ethical principles regarding human experimentation and was developed by the World Medical Association. Last revised in October 2013.
  
  
• The Vancouver Convention: Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly work in Medical Journals drawn up by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). The recommendations specify requirements that most medical journals use as the basis for publishing scientific articles. The recommendations provide both practical and ethical guidelines for authors. Read more about the Vancouver recommendations here.

• Internal guidelines for the consideration of cases involving possible violations of recognised research ethics standards at Kristiania University College

Report form:

• Report form in the event of possible violations of recognised research ethics standards at Kristiania University College

Please send the report form to: forskningsetikk@kristiania.no

Mandate and composition

The Research Ethics Committee will work to ensure that research at Kristiania University College takes place within appropriate frameworks and in accordance with recognised research ethics practices and to promote consideration for research ethics.

The Research Ethics Committee will manage possible breaches of recognised research ethics standards as set out in the Norwegian Act on ethics and integrity in research (Research Ethics Act) and the Regulations on research ethics committees (Research Ethics Regulations).

The committee will manage matters relating to scientific activities at Kristiania University College or that involve one or more parties with ties to Kristiania.

Scientific misconduct refers to falsification, fabrication, plagiarism and other serious violations of recognised research ethics standards that have been committed intentionally or grossly negligently during the planning, implementation or reporting of research (Research Ethics Act Section 8 - Statements in cases of misconduct). The committee will also play a preventive role in order to promote proper practice.

The Research Ethics Committee is appointed by and reports to the University College Board. The Board receives a report on the committee’s work on an annual basis (appointment has been delegated by the Board to the Pro-Rector of R&D/AD).

Permanent members:

• External chairperson
• Pro-Rector of R&D/AD
• Four members appointed by the Pro-Rector of R&D/AD by authorisation from the Board

In addition to the permanent members, the committee may invite up to two other representatives, external or internal, as experts in each case. These must be experienced researchers with qualifications within the field to which the allegations of misconduct relate. When considering the case in question, these experts will be included as members of the committee.

Duties of the Research Ethics Committee at Kristiania University College

The Integrity Committee will:

Consider allegations of deviations from proper scientific practice submitted to the committee and the committee shall, in line with  Section 8 – Statements in cases of misconduct, provide a written statement and consider the following:

1. a) Whether the researcher has committed scientific misconduct or not
2. b) Whether there are any system errors at the institution and
3. c) Whether the scientific work should be corrected or withdrawn.

Take the initiative for arranging lectures, seminars, meetings and other information sharing and training in accordance with  Section 5 - Requirements relating to research institutions of the Norwegian Research Ethics Act.

Establish guidelines for the consideration of cases involving possible violations of recognised research ethics standards in accordance with  Section 6 – Consideration of misconduct cases at research institutions of the Norwegian Research Ethics Act.

Report possible serious violations to the Investigative Committee ( Section 7 – Investigative Committee of the Norwegian Research Ethics Act).

Misconduct cases may be submitted to the committee by the Rector or Pro-Rectors or by a Head of Faculty, subject to the approval of the rectorate. The committee may also independently decide to consider a misconduct case. In cases that are submitted, the committee has a responsibility to ensure transparent case management in which all involved parties are heard.

Members of the Research Ethics Committee (2021-2023):

The members of the Research Ethics Committee were appointed on 28 March 2019 and were reappointed in 2021 for a further two years.

• Chairperson: Assistant Professor Nicolai Nyland, University of South-East Norway
• Deputy chairperson: Associate Professor Anne Bang Lyngdal, University of South-East Norway
• Pro-Rector R&D/AD: Professor Trine Johansen Meza, Kristiania University College
• Member: Assistant Professor Helge Hiram Jensen, Kristiania University College
• Member: Assistant Professor Merete Kolberg Tennfjord, Kristiania University College
• Member: Assistant Professor Øyvind Aas, Kristiania University College
• Member: Professor and Head of Faculty for the Faculty of Performing Arts, Music and Studio Jørgen Langdalen, Kristiania University College.
• Secretariat: Joachim Børlie, Kristiania University College

Meetings and minutes

The committee will hold two meetings each semester (and may convene additional meetings as needed). The secretariat will convene meetings, prepare the agenda and take minutes. The Board receives annual reports on the committee’s work.