The Ombuds Office for Scientific Integrity is open to all IT:U employees and students and offers advice on issues relating to scientific integrity and good scientific practice. It can also be contacted if there is reasonable suspicion of scientific misconduct in research or teaching. The Ombuds Office for Scientific Integrity consists of two appointed ombudspersons who are members of the IT:U staff.
The Ombuds Office works confidentially, impartially, independently, and without directives.
The responsibilities of the Ombuds Office include:
- Giving advice relating to questions and issues relating to good scientific practice and scientific misconduct
- Reviewing and investigating possible cases of scientific misconduct
- Supporting the IT:U Founding President and the scientific staff by uncovering procedural irregularities and systemic problems. The Ombuds Office may provide general recommendations to address these issues.
The Ombuds Office for Scientific Integrity follows the legal regulations of the GDPR and ENOHE’s Values and Principles as well as the Austrian Agency for Research Integrity’s (ÖAWI) guidelines.
The responsibility of the Ombuds Office ends if
- the conflict or allegations turn out not to be related to good scientific practice. In this case, reference is made to the appropriate IT:U internal bodies such as the Students Ombuds Office, Equal Opportunity Officer, First Committee for Equality and Women’s Advancement (FCEWA), Human Resources or Student Ombuds or external advice bodies.
- if it another conciliatory body has been involved in the same matter.
- if one of the parties involved decides to take legal action.
How to raise concerns
- You can reach to the Ombuds Office via email (). In-person meetings require an appointment.
- Be prepared to give us detailed information, preferably in writing, so that we can discuss the best course of action.
- Based on the information, we decide whether to launch a preliminary investigation. Allegiations that are based on hearsay and made anonymously will not be investigated. If the allegations are made in good faith the informant is protected according to the ÖAWI’s whistleblowing protection guidelines.
- The IT:U is a member of the ÖAWI and can forward allegations to the ÖAWI for clarification. Alternatively, IT:U employees can also contact the ÖAWI directly to clarify cases of possible violations of the rules of good scientific practice.
Cheating in assessments in the context of educational programs is not in the Ombuds Office’s scope. The relevant IT:U regulations can be found in article 21 in the IT:U’s bylaws.
Contact
Dr. Karin Langer
Dr. Agnes Rettelbach
The Ombuds Office cannot…
… issue instructions to university employees
… amend existing regulations (laws, regulations, decrees)
… intervene in ongoing legal proceedings or revoke court decisions
… represent IT:U staff members or students in court