Guidelines for developing sustainable international scientific collaborations
Questions for self-evaluation
I. Breaches of academic integrity
Academic freedom
1. Have you been able to cover every desired subjects and include all relevant people in your joint activities?
2. Have you been able to ask the questions you needed to ask?
3. Have you been asked to modify or hide the results of your project?
4. Are you free to disseminate the results of your project as planned?
5. Have you been contacted by networks of foreign influence (embassies, associations, foreign students based in Switzerland) in order to modify your project?
6.Have you been granted access to reliable and pertinent information in the partner country?
7. Do you find that your collaboration meets the same freedom standards of other international cooperations? If not, why and is it acceptable or not?
Self-censorship
8. If you are censoring yourself, is it beyond “courtesy” standards?
9. Is self-censorship necessary to continue the collaboration without jeopardizing personal safety of people involved in it?
10. Can you use a different vocabulary and rephrase sensitive issues to avoid self-censorship?
11. Are you subject to pressures from students in the classroom or during public events?
12. Are you subject to pressures from colleagues, official bodies or informal actors?
13. Have you benefited from incentives that may reduce your freedom of speech?
14. Do you fear retaliation measures: visa denial, access to sources or individuals in the field, etc? Does it impact your research or studies?
15. Are you dependent on funding from foreign partners? If yes, does it impact your freedom of speech?
Ethical standards in research
16. Is personal data used for research correctly protected?
17. Is research on human beings compliant with UNIGE’s ethical standards?[1]
18. Is animal use compliant with UNIGE’s ethical standards?[1]
19. Are individuals discriminated in the project?
20. Is the region in which you are operating in the partner country subject to breaches of Human Rights? If yes, what are the consequences of your project on this situation?
Political influence and foreign interference
21. Is your collaboration with international partners subject to political influence?
22. Is your project financially sustainable without foreign funding?
23. What is the political background behind the collaboration? (even if it is about fundamental research)
24. Have you identified soft power mechanisms affecting your collaboration?
25. What are the links of interest and affiliations (e.g. military) of your partners?
26. Have you researched the political background of the partner institution?
27. If you receive funding from foreign sources, are you aware of the legal and ethical implications linked to it?
28. If you change or adapt your project in order to have access to foreign funding, are you significantly restricting your academic freedom?
Dual-use and unintended use of findings
29. Is your field of research subject to dual-use?
30. Is your field of research subject to dual-use Concern?
31. Even if you are active in fundamental research, could the cooperation lead to undesirable transfer of knowledge and be translated in technology that can be used for actions which are contrary to your values?
32. Are you aware of the links between your partner and the military sector?
33. Have you clarified if you are collaborating with colleagues/students who have direct links with the military sector?
For internal recommandations on dual-use issues, see https://cureg.unige.ch/
II. Breaches of knowledge security
Undesirable transfer of knowledge or data
34. Have you thoroughly discussed the use and ownership of project results with your partner?
35. Have you thoroughly discussed the use and ownership of personal data with your partner?
36. Have all your agreements been reviewed by the competent offices at UNIGE? (Legal affairs, Research, UNITEC)?
37. Do you comply with regulation on data protection?
Use of digital tools (while abroad)
38. Have you considered using different phones or computers for different purposes?
39. Have you considered using external hard drives and USB-sticks for your sensitive data?
40. Are you using public Wi-Fi, university networks or hotspots to have access to the internet?
41. Have you clarified with your partner the possibility to use UNIGE’s/the host’s VPN?
Cyber attacks and espionnage (in Switzerland)
42. Do you know UNIGE’s IT security policy and general security rules?
43. Have you evaluated the level of security needed for your project?
44. Have you checked UNIGE’s portal on cybersecurity?
45. Do you carefully identify phishing practices and use secured passwords?
Infringements on intellectual property rigts
46. Have you contacted UNIGE’s Legal affairs Office, UNITEC or the Research Service in order to negotiate and formalize the agreements concluded within the framework of the collaboration?
47. If the partnership is mainly funded by a foreign source, have you discussed how intellectual property rights will be shared?
III. Lack of reciprocity in cooperation
Lack of transparency
48. Do you understand your partner’s agenda and motivations?
49. Have you inquired about the affiliations of your (institutional/individual) partner?
50. Do you understand the responsibilities and the roles of the project’s stakeholders?
51. What problems could arise from the partner’s side that could modify the project?
52. Do you know which rules and legislation apply?
53. If foreign law applies, do you understand the consequences on your project?
Lack of equal acess to research, facilities and data
54. Have you thoroughly discussed equal access issues with your partner?
55. Are objectives and expectations integrated in written in the collaboration agreement?
56. Which guidelines are you following to protect your own research, facilities and data?
Non-compliance with contracts
57. Does you collaboration agreement include a clause for immediate termination of the collaboration which can be activated by both sides at any moment?
58. Have you thoroughly discussed sensitive topics with your partner before the beginning of the collaboration?
59. Are you regularly and overtly discussing potential issues of non-compliance with your partner?
IV. Personal security and health risks
Personal security and health risks
60. Have you checked UNIGE’s policy on risk areas and the associated websites before going abroad?
61. Are you aware of how the legal and cultural environment can impact your activities?
62. Are you aware of possible zero tolerance policies on drugs?
63. If you are dual national, are you aware of the recommendations of your second home country’s government regarding your partner country?
64. Are you aware of discrimination issues abroad or in Switzerland by foreign or Swiss colleagues on the basis of gender, ethnic or social origin, religion or sexual orientation?
If your self-evaluation raises concerns about one or more of these questions, you can contact Olivier.Vincent(at)unige.ch, in order to liaise with the Group of experts on international collaboration for further advice.
The categories of this self-evaluation are based on d’Hooghe and Lammertink “Towards Sustainable Europe-China Collaboration in Higher Education in Research”, 2020, the Leiden Asia Centre, p. 37-38.