Scientific integrity

Everyone involved in teaching and research at Maastricht University shares in the responsibility for maintaining academic integrity. All of our academic staff are expected to adhere to the general principles of professional academic practice at all times.

Maastricht University endorses the principles of professional scientific conduct as expressed in the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Scientific Integrity and has established its own 'Regulation for Scientific Integrity at Maastricht University'. This is in compliance with the overarching UM Integrity Code of Conduct.

Procedure

In case of questions or complaints concerning scientific integrity, the confidential advisors on scientific integrity are the primary contact persons. They will try to mediate in the complaint or to reach a solution. If this is not possible, they will guide the complainant in filing the complaint with the UM Committee on Scientific Integrity. Ph.D. candidates who have questions or complaints concerning scientific integrity can also contact the confidential advisor at their faculty, before contacting the UM advisors on scientific integrity.

Contact

Within UM, prof. Herman Kingma, dr. Ree Meertens and prof. Sophie Vanhoonacker-Kormoss act as the confidential advisors on Scientific Integrity. You can contact the confidential advisors by email at vertrouwenspersoonwi@maastrichtuniversity.nl or call the secretaries to the confidential advisors, Rachelle Rutgrink and Arnold Verhoeven, at +31 (0)43 388 2350.

Committee for Scientific Integrity

The Committee for Scientific Integrity advises the Executive Board on complaints filed regarding scientific integrity. The Regulation for Scientific Integrity defines what constitutes a violation of scientific integrity and the procedure for submitting a complaint.

The independent committee consists of prof. dr. André Knottnerus (chair), dr. Sjaak Koenis, prof. dr. Marleen van Baak and prof. dr. Bruno de Witte. The secretary of the committee is Cloë Brosius.

Submitting a complaint

Complaints must include the following:

a clear description in writing of the (alleged) violation of scientific integrity by one or more specified employees of Maastricht University
written or other types of evidence related to this
the complainant’s name, job title and contact details
the complainant’s signature and date

Use this complaint form if you want to file a complaint

Confidential advisors for Ph.D. candidates

In addition to the confidential advisors and committee for scientific integrity, each faculty has appointed one or more confidential advisors for Ph.D. candidates. The confidential advisors can advise Ph.D. candidates on a wide range of issues, problems and conflicts, including but not limited to scientific integrity. The advisors are:

Mieke Olaerts (FL)
Clemens Kool (SBE)
Carla Haelermans (SBE)
Mayke Pothof (FSE)
Renée van de Vall (FASoS)
Anke Sambeth (FPN)
Jochen Cals (FHML - CAPHRI)
Milena Pavlova (FHML – CAPHRI)
Eline Kooi (FHML – CARIM)
Andrea Romano (FHML – GROW)
Gabriel Paiva Fonseca (FHML - GROW)
Theo de Kok (FHML – GROW/MACSBIO)
Elena Ambrosino (FHML – GROW)
Sabine van Rijt (FHML – M4i)
Benjamin Balluff (FHML – MERLN)
Martin van Boxtel (FHML – MHeNS)
Roger Godschalk (FHML – NUTRIM)
Herma Roebertsen (FHML – SHE)

More information on scientific integrity you can find on the website of The Association of Universities in the Netherlands and the website of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen.

Go to Confidential advisor for employees
Go to ombudsman