Welcome to our association’s website.
For far too long, academic institutions have chosen to maintain a cosy, insular world in which those who engage in conduct contrary to professional standards and ethics seem untouchable and free from any consequences. The expectation that researchers should keep a low profile in order to have any chance of advancing their careers, the relative inaction of institutions wishing to preserve their social and moral capital, and the trust placed by the system in those in positions of power all contribute to this climate of relative impunity.
Whilst over the past fifteen years or so, partly thanks to the #MeToo movement, people have become somewhat more vocal and institutions have taken certain reports more seriously – particularly the most serious cases – we note that victims of such behaviour are still too often encouraged to keep their suffering to themselves, or faced with an insoluble dilemma: to come forward publicly and ruin their career, or to remain silent and let things be.
Our association has therefore set itself the goal of helping to bring to light and highlight ethical issues within Swiss universities and higher education institutions.
In this capacity, the association acts as a whistleblower, a promoter of a moral ideal, and engages concretely with institutional, public or private stakeholders, as well as, where necessary, before the courts.
Our association has therefore set itself the aim of helping to identify and highlight ethical issues within Swiss universities and higher education institutions.
In this capacity, the association acts as a whistleblower and promoter of moral standards, and takes concrete action with institutional, public and private stakeholders, as well as in court where necessary, to defend the interests of research and researchers in conducting their work in a healthy and supportive environment. Ethical issues include conflicts of interest, plagiarism, the unregulated and non-transparent use of artificial intelligence, and inappropriate behaviour towards colleagues, subordinates or students, including acts of physical, verbal, psychological or symbolic violence. We also wish to contribute to research on these issues and to help disseminate research findings on these matters.
Interested in joining the project? Get in touch