AU is introducing a new set of ground rules for external research collaboration. The rules will ensure responsible practice and freedom in collaboration, and they will help clarify a complex area.

2020.06.09 | Thomas Grønborg Sørensen

Photo: Ida Jensen

Aarhus University’s ground rules for responsible conduct of research and freedom of research in collaboration with external parties comprise three elements: 

• three key principles,
• clearer categorisation of different types of collaboration,
• and a checklist with specific instructions for all phases of a project.

"The principles of freedom of research and independence, for example, are the backbone of our external collaboration. They describe the spirit in which we carry out projects, and we should always reflect on how we live up to these principles in individual projects, and not least on how we ensure transparency in collaboration. The ground rules also contain more specific tools to make it easier for researchers to transfer the principles to their collaboration agreements," says Brian Bech Nielsen.

A single entry for external collaboration

The ground rules are also intended to provide a single entry to a simple and clear overview of the laws, policies, codes of conduct, guidelines and principles for the area. Several of them overlap with each other, which means that the analysis the rules for the area has been important in itself.

The work on the new ground rules was an offshoot of the so-called beef case, which revealed a need for clearer guidelines for external collaboration.

"The beef case was a warning, and it revealed a need for better and more easily accessible information for our researchers on the National Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and other relevant rules and principles," says the rector, and he points out that the ground rules should be considered in the context of the workshops and courses on responsible conduct of research that will also be organised in the wake of the beef case. There will be more about these later this year. 

During the autumn, the ground rules will also be discussed by the academic councils and, in the long term, the plan is to evaluate them all in 2021. 

Tested on researchers and department heads

A working group with participants from the four former faculties drew up the ground rules. In order to ensure that they are comprehensive, clear and useful, they were tested earlier this year on 19 researchers and department heads from various academic environments. They were then adjusted before being approved by the senior management team in May. 

An important element in the preparation process for the basic rules is that they must be practicable. They must ensure freedom of research, independence and transparency, but they must also be a practical and useful tool for researchers who are planning to collaborate externally. 

This can be a challenge in cases that simultaneously have to take into account e.g. GDPR guidelines, the National Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, the new quality management system for public sector consultancy at Technical Sciences and much more. For this reason, the website for the ground rules includes references to other specific regulations etc.

Time for pressure tests

"Our tests have provided a preliminary indication that the rules look useful, but now it’s time for pressure testing in practice by researchers. The idea is that we now have a clearly defined point of departure for researchers when they start a new project, and I hope that the ground rules will make collaboration with external parties easier for our researchers. External collaboration is an important part of work at AU, and a clearer framework will hopefully free up more time for the substance of research; to generate new knowledge to benefit society," says Brian Bech Nielsen.

• The ground rules came into force on 2 June 2020. 
• The existing guidelines for collaboration agreements between Aarhus University and external partners issued in 2000 have been repealed.

Read more: See the ground rules