Ethics seminar at the University of Tartu Explored Ethical and Responsible Research Practices
From October 1–3, 2025, the University of Tartu Ethics Centre hosted an international research integrity seminar organized by the Alliance4Life_BRIDGE project, bringing together research ethics specialists from 11 Central and Eastern European countries.
The research integrity seminar was intended exclusively for research ethics specialists participating in the Alliance project. However, the public lectures delivered by distinguished guest speakers were open to everyone interested in academic values and ethics.
The seminar was pleased to host two leading European experts in research ethics:
On October 1, Professor Doris Schröder from the University of Lancashire delivered a public lecture titled “Towards Equitable Research Partnerships in International Research – How to Combat Helicopter Research and Ethics Dumping.”
The term “ethics dumping” was introduced 12 years ago by the European Commission within the context of the project “TRUST”. Ethics dumping refers to the practice of exporting unethical research practices from high-income or high-regulation countries to low- and middle-income countries where ethical standards, oversight, or enforcement may be weaker. In other words, it’s when researchers or institutions conduct studies abroad that would not be permitted under the ethical rules of their own country, often taking advantage of regulatory gaps, economic disparities, or vulnerable populations.
By “helicopter research” we mean research where investigators (often from high-income countries with research funds) “drop in” to collect data or samples in another country — typically a lower-income one — without genuine collaboration, capacity building, or credit sharing with local researchers.
In her lecture, Professor Schröder highlighted several examples of ethics dumping and helicopter research. She also drew attention to the challenges of conducting transparent research under time constraints, and the need for ethics committee approval, funders’ pressure, and the expectation to deliver project results within a limited timeframe.
However, ethics and integrity principles should not become a burden to research excellence either in planning, carrying out research or in the process afterward.
At the same time, ethics also involves many borderline topics where there is no clear “yes or no” answer. For example, participants discussed the arguments for and against whether, if there is reason to believe that the results presented in a scientific article are not based on ethical research, such work should be cited in one’s own work or not.
“Research must always be collaborative. You just can’t do research without explaining what and why you are doing. Research is not the human right of the researcher.”
Professor Doris Schröder
The “TRUST” project resulted in a concise four-page TRUST Code translated into 11 languages and a newly edited 2025 Supplement in the frame of the ongoing “PREPARED” project, both available for all researchers to follow. The code includes simple understandable suggestions while doing your research: fairness, respect, care, and honesty. Research ethics recommendations must be understandable from the perspective of everyday moral values and not be dominated by technical language.
Public lecture by Doris Schröder
On October 3, Professor Mariëtte van den Höven from Amsterdam University Medical Centers gave a public lecture titled “Empowerment as key to changing research culture.”
Research integrity and research ethics are considered important to sustain high quality research. Over the past decade, most research involving human subjects has required approval from ethics committees, data protection specialists, and privacy officers. However, changing the research culture is not simply about introducing new procedures or roles. It is a complex network of activities and structures within academic institutions — encompassing career pathways, researcher assessment, intercultural differences, and team dynamics. Empowerment serves as a useful approach to understanding what is needed beyond requirements and structures.
A healthy research culture depends on many interconnected elements — including funding, publishing, reward systems, career well-being, social safety, competition, leadership, supervision, and many more. While researchers are often evaluated by the number of publications, teaching, mentoring, and community engagement can be equally valuable. Recognizing all aspects of researchers’ professional lives is vital for building a more ethical, responsible, and sustainable research environment.
"If we truly want to change academia, we need a vision of how researchers work together. Empowerment is learning together how to do things best. It is all about learning to hear, see and courage to speak up."
Professor Mariëtte van den Höven
Public lecture by Mariëtte van den Höven
Research Integrity Seminar
Practical Focus on Research Ethics
The hands-on research integrity seminar, held on October 2–3, 2025, at the Centre for Ethics, University of Tartu, focused on sharing good practices in research ethics, developing an e-learning research ethics course, and promoting the responsible conduct of research.
Representation from Across the Alliance
Each Alliance4Life_BRIDGE institution was represented by at least one research integrity or ethics specialist, ensuring broad participation and active knowledge exchange during the two-day seminar.
The seminar was opened by Vice Rector for Research in the University of Tartu Professor Mari Moora, who emphasized the importance of ethical and responsible research as a foundation for academic excellence and societal trust.
Professor Margit Sutrop, Head of the Centre for Ethics, highlighted the importance of ethical competence and explained why it is essential for scientists to understand and apply it in their work. In 2017, the Estonian Code of Conduct for Research Integrity was approved and adopted, and all major universities in Estonia follow its principles in their work.
Professor Sutrop also reflected on whether a scientist can do good science without being a good person. Science is not a value-free space. It is important to understand and reflect on how your personal values influence your work as a researcher. She went on to emphasize that science is built on trust and cooperation. Trust itself is a value, and cooperation is essential, as every scientist depends on the work of others.
Professor Sutrop also addressed the question of when research integrity comes into play, what ethical competence means, and whether values can be taught — the latter being one of her research areas.
Insights from Research Integrity Counsellors
The introduction was followed by four short presentations from the Research Integrity Counsellors of the University of Tartu — one from each faculty: Professor Kardi Simm (filed: humanities), Professor Kairi Kreegipuu (field: social sciences), Visiting Professor Andres Soosaar (field: medicine), and Associate Professor Raul Kangro (field: science and technology). They shared insights into their roles, discussed the practical problems and situations they encounter in daily work, highlighted the most common questions posed by researchers, and explained how they support responsible research practices.
From all their insights, a common understanding emerged: ethics is not something that comes at the end of research, nor is it something to deal with only when there is time left over. Ethical considerations in science are horizontal — they begin the moment research starts and naturally affect all members of the research group and co-authors alike.
Exploring Research Integrity and Ethics in Practice
Professor Doris Schröder from the University of Central Lancashire led a practical workshop on developing an e-learning course on research ethics — one of the key tasks of Alliance4Life_BRIDGE Focus Group 2 (Research Ethics).
Participants discussed which components an e-learning course should include to best serve its purpose, make it engaging for learners, and allow for the assessment of course completion.
During the session, participants also worked in groups to discuss the concepts of research integrity and research ethics. In several languages, including Estonian, there are no distinct terms for these concepts, yet it was agreed that research integrity is a broader notion encompassing the principles and behaviors that define good scientific practice, while research ethics is one of its components. Research integrity has gained increasing importance over the past decade, focusing on what it means to be a good scientist, whereas research ethics deals more narrowly with issues such as ethical approvals, review committees, and compliance procedures.
Workshop on Responsible Conduct of Research
Professor Mariëtte van den Höven from Amsterdam University Medical Centers conducted a workshop on responsible conduct of research — a core aspect of maintaining integrity in science. Responsible conduct of research refers to the practice of carrying out scientific investigation with integrity, guided by established professional norms and ethical principles in all stages of research.
During the workshop, participants reflected on the question: Who is a good and ethical researcher? The discussion highlighted key ethical principles and virtues that form the foundation of responsible research, including honesty, impartiality, accountability, transparency, respect, and reliability.
