Scientific Integrity
Scientific integrity is based on the observance of fundamental principles and their many different contextual concretisations. These principles guide scientists in their research and teaching and help them to deal with the practical, ethical, and intellectual challenges they can expect to encounter.
Scientific integrity - establishing standards together
Between 2018 and 2021, a group comprised of experts from the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, the Swiss National Science Foundation, swissuniversities and Innosuisse, worked on a new code of conduct for scientific integrity. Its aim is to strengthen scientific integrity in research and educational settings, while addressing all actors, participating in the creation, dissemination and promotion of knowledge within the Swiss system of higher education. For Institutions it serves as a checklist for their own regulations and as a practical reference when there is doubt about best practices. Furthermore, the code takes recent developments in the fields of open science and social media into account, and provides precise recommendations on how best to set up structures for the protection of integrity. The code of conduct was published in four languages on 11 May 2021.
Swiss Competence Centre for Scientific Integrity
At its meeting on 8 November 2024, the Swiss Conference of Higher Education Institutions passed the Ordinance on Quality Assurance in the Area of Scientific Integrity. This resolved to set up a Swiss Competence Centre for Scientific Integrity. The Competence Centre will act in an advisory capacity for higher education institutions when it comes to scientific integrity in addition to gathering data on scientific integrity in Switzerland. It will be hosted at the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences.
Responsible bodies for scientific integrity in Switzerland
If an institution is not listed below, please contact the institution directly. It is possible that no contact point for questions related to research integrity is publicly available.
Universities
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne | EPFL
Ombuds Office
Integrity Office
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich | ETHZ
Ombuds Office
Integrity Office
University of Basel | UNIBAS
Ombuds Office
Integrity Office
University of Bern | UNIBE
Ombuds Office
Integrity Office
University of Fribourg | UNIFR
Ombuds Office
University of Geneva | UNIGE
Ombuds Office
University of Lausanne | UNIL
Ombuds Office
Integrity Office
University of Lucerne | UNILU
Ombuds Office
Integrity Office
University of Neuchâtel | UNINE
Ombuds Office
Integrity Office
University of St Gallen | HSG
Ombuds Office
Integrity Office
University of Italian Switzerland | USI
Integrity Office
University of Zurich | UZH
Ombuds Office
Integrity Office
Universities of Applied Sciences
Bern University of Applied Sciences | BFH
Ombuds Office
University of Applied Sciences of Graubünden | FHGR
Ombuds Office
University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland | FHNW
Ombuds Office
University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland | HES-SO
Ombuds Office
Integrity Office
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts | HSLU
Ombuds Office
Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences
Ombuds Office
Integrity Office
Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences | OST
Ombuds Office
University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland | SUPSI
Integrity Office
Zurich University of the Arts | ZHdK
Ombuds Office
Zurich University of Applied Sciences | ZHAW
Ombuds Office
Universities of Teacher Education
Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training | SFUVET
Ombuds Office
University of Teacher Education Bern | PHBern
Ombuds Office
NMS Bern Institute of Teacher Education | PH NMS
Ombuds Office
University of Teacher Education of Northwestern Switzerland | PH FHNW
Ombuds Office
University of Teacher Education St Gallen | PHSG
Integrity Office
University of Teacher Education Thurgau | PHTG
Integrity Office
University of Teacher Education Zug | PH ZUG
Ombuds Office
Other Higher Education Institutions
Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen | SFISM
Ombuds Office
University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration | HWZ
Ombuds Office
International Institute for Management Development | IHEID
Ombuds Office
Integrity Office
Les Roches International School of Hotel Management
Ombuds Office
Swiss Business School | SBS
Integrity Office
Swiss UMEF
Integrity Office
Basel Theological Seminary | STH Basel
Integrity Office
Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences a+
Press release
Switzerland to establish a National Competence Centre for Scientific Integrity
At its meeting on 8 November 2024, the Swiss Conference of Higher Education Institutions passed the Ordinance on Quality Assurance in the Area of Scientific Integrity. This resolved to set up a Competence Centre for Scientific Integrity Switzerland. The Competence Centre will act in an advisory capacity for higher education institutions when it comes to scientific integrity in addition to gathering data on scientific integrity in Switzerland.
Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences a+
Code of conduct for scientific integrity
A group of experts with representatives from the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, the Swiss National Science Foundation, swissuniversities and Innosuisse has drawn up a new code of conduct for scientific integrity. The principles of reliability, honesty, respect and accountability form the core of the new code. These values help strengthen a culture of scientific integrity in the long run. One of the chief aims of the code is, to improve scientific integrity in all aspects of research and teaching, in particular in the training and promotion of young scientists. The code takes into account current developments in the areas of open science and social media, in addition to, shedding light on the issue of statutes of limitations.