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Scientific integrity

Integrity and Ethics

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 secretary to the confidential advisors, 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 (voorzitter), prof. dr. Marleen van Baak, dr. Sjaak Koenis and prof. dr. Bruno de Witte. The secretary of the committee is mr. Rick Blezer.

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:

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 (intranet)
  Go to ombudsperson (intranet)

 

Complaints should be submitted to:​
Rick Blezer 
Secretary, Committee for Scientific Integrity 
  cwi@maastrichtuniversity.nl
 06-48086214

or by post:
Maastricht University
Secretary, Committee for Scientific Integrity
MUO | CWI secretariaat
PO Box 616
6200 MD Maastricht
(mark the envelope 'personal and confidential')