Silhouet foto Miguel Bruna on Unsplash

Theme 2: Independence

Academic freedom and (scientific) integrity benefit from constant attention to independence. After all, a discussion about someone’s independence harms public support for scientific research and makes you personally vulnerable. The same applies to situations in which you are involved in the purchase of products or services.

On this site you will find the Code of Conduct in brief. The full text in the PDF is leading at all times.

Our 7 ground rules for independence

  • 1

    Conflicts of interest

    You avoid a conflict of interest

    You avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance thereof. This is the case when your private interests conflict or seem to conflict with the performance of your duties and responsibilities within the university.

    • You must not use your knowledge and influence to serve your own interests or that of someone else with whom or other organization in which you are personally involved.
    • There should be no (potential) (financial) benefit for you, your partner, family member, colleagues or friends.
  • 2

    Ancillary activities

    You should always ask permission

    You should always ask your manager for written permission to carry out paid or unpaid ancillary activities or if these could harm the interests of the university.

  • 3

    Design and content of research

    You do not allow yourself to be influenced

    You do not allow yourself to be influenced by the interests of others in the design and content of your research. This means that you will not give third parties the opportunity to exert unauthorized influence on the design and content of your research and the wording and publication of the research results.

  • 4

    Business gifts and donations

    You are careful with the acceptance of a gift

    You are careful with the acceptance of a gift and you always discuss this (if possible) with your manager. You may only accept a gift if the appearance of a conflict of interest is minimal or if refusal or return would seriously hurt or embarrass the giver, or would be practically impossible. It is advisable to share the gift with your colleagues if possible.

    You never accept a gift in the form of money, when you are in a consultation, assessment, or negotiation situation with the giver or if the value exceeds €50.

  • 5

    Invitation to non-work related events

    Only if your presence is functional or representative

    You only accept invitations to business lunches, dinners, receptions, and other events paid for by others if your presence is functional or representative and the appearance of a conflict of interest is minimal. You discuss this with your manager in advance if there is any doubt.

  • 6

    Bribes

    You do not take bribes

    You do not take bribes such as money, goods, or services. You are not allowed to bribe others by offering money, goods, or services.

  • 7

    Discussing private relationships

    You discuss private relationships with colleagues or students

    You discuss private relationships you have with colleagues with your manager. You take measures to prevent possible undesirable effects of this private relationship. This also applies to an employee’s relationship with a student or a PhD thesis supervisor’s relationship with a PhD candidate. If, as a student, you have a relationship with another student whom you need to assess, you should discuss this with your supervisor beforehand.

Further details and guidelines

What if things go wrong?

You have a suspicion that you, a fellow student, lecturer or one of your colleagues may have a conflict of interest, for example, due to your own company, a business relationship, business gifts or invitations, financial interests, in the case of a relationship with a lecturer, in the case of bribery or ancillary activities.

Below you see where you can go. You don’t have to follow all the stops. If you prefer to skip a stop, you can, it’s especially important that you enter into discussion!

Roadmap: where can you go?

Student
  1. The person concerned.
  2. Tutor, program coordinator, chair of the department or the Vice Dean or Dean.
  3. Dean of Students or Program Coordinator 
  4. Integrety  Coordinator
  5. Whistleblower hotline.
Employee
  1. The person concerned.
  2. Manager.
  3. Integrety  Coordinator
  4. Whistleblower hotline.
PhD Candidate
  1. The person concerned
  2. Tutor
  3. Integrety  Coordinator
  4. Whistleblower hotline
Guest
  1. The person concerned.
  2. Commissioning party.
  3. Integrety  Coordinator
  4. Whistleblower hotline.
Download the roadmap

Where you can go when, you will also find in the roadmap