Microcredential: Science Ethics and Research Integrity
TU Bergakademie Freiberg
- Upcoming events
This course provides learners from diverse backgrounds with a strong foundation in the principles and practices of research ethics and integrity.
It is designed to support students, researchers, professionals, policy-makers, and the wider public in understanding how responsible science underpins credibility, transparency, and societal trust:
For students
it offers an essential introduction to ethical reasoning and academic honesty.
For researchers and academics
it deepens awareness of evolving standards that safeguard scientific quality.
For industry professionals
it clarifies regulatory expectations and ethical norms in technology-intensive sectors.
For the general public
it opens a window onto how science works, why integrity matters, and how ethical challenges shape innovation, safety, and sustainability.
Participants will gain practical tools to engage responsibly with research, communicate science ethically across audiences, and critically assess scientific claims in an era of misinformation and rapid technological change. The course also equips learners to reflect on their own responsibilities, whether as scientists, professionals, or informed citizens — in promoting ethical knowledge creation and dissemination.
Key information
Registration deadline: 12 January 2026
Language: English
Recognition of credits: 3 ECTS
Assessment:
- Written exam (case study short essay) – weighted assessment.
- Active class participation (minimum 80%) – prerequisite for examination.
The final grade is based on the written exam results.
Competencies:
- Ethical reasoning in relation to research and innovation.
- Good research practices, including authorship, data management, and collaboration.
- Ethics of science communication to expert and non-expert audiences.
- Critical awareness of the ethical and institutional landscape of modern science.
- Risk assessment in relation to conflicts of interest and integrity.
- Understanding of global frameworks, codes of conduct, and institutional mechanisms for research integrity.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Explain key principles of research ethics and integrity.
- Identify and analyse ethical issues such as plagiarism, falsification, and unfair authorship.
- Communicate science responsibly and transparently.
- Navigate ethical dilemmas in collaboration, publication, and data sharing.
- Apply international standards (e.g. ALLEA, COPE, Singapore Statement) to real-world cases.
- Evaluate research misconduct and reflect on appropriate responses.
- Recognise their personal and professional responsibility in maintaining scientific values.
Programme
(Tuesdays, 10:00–11:30):
Programme (Tuesdays, 10:00–11:30):
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21 October 2025
Lecture 1: Introduction to Science Ethics: What is a misconduct?
Overview of the history, values, and social role of science, and why ethical standards are essential to credibility and trust. -
28 October 2025
Lecture 2: Opinion, Belief, Knowledge: A Case-Study on "Knowing"
Prof. Gunter Süß, Mittweida University of Applied Sciences
Exploration of fabrication, falsification, plagiarism (FFP) and other questionable practices, their consequences, and institutional responses. -
4 November 2025
Lecture 3: Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)
Integration of ethics, public values, and sustainability into the research and innovation process. -
11 November 2025
Lecture 4: Codes of Conduct and International Guidelines
Study of key international documents (ALLEA, COPE, Singapore Statement, OECD), their application, and limitations in practice. -
18 November 2025
Lecture 5: Authorship and Collaboration
Criteria for authorship, strategies for avoiding disputes, collaboration management, and navigating power dynamics. -
25 November 2025
Lecture 6: Conflicts of Interest and Institutional Responsibilities
Identification and management of conflicts related to funding, partnerships, and peer review processes. -
2 December 2025
Lecture 7: Peer Review and the Ethics of Evaluation
Responsibilities of reviewers, editors, and evaluators, with a focus on bias, confidentiality, and transparency. -
9 December 2025
Lecture 8: Data Ethics and Open Science
Reproducibility, data sharing, confidentiality, and the stewardship of data in open science contexts. -
16 December 2025
Lecture 9: Science Communication: Ethics and Integrity
Vanessa Juliane Herrmann, Mittweida University of Applied Sciences
Communicating research results accurately and accessibly, handling uncertainty, and engaging with media responsibly. -
6 January 2026
Lecture 10: Case Studies of Research Misconduct
Examination of real-world cases of misconduct, with analysis of root causes, impacts, and institutional responses. -
13 January 2026
Lecture 11: Ethics in Industry, Pharma, Agro, Sustainability and Resources
Sector-specific ethical challenges, including balancing innovation, safety, sustainability, and integrity. -
20 January 2026
Lecture 12: Future Narratives
Prof. Gunter Süß, Mittweida University of Applied Sciences
Exploration of emerging issues - AI, digitalisation, globalisation, citizen science, and misinformation - anticipating future ethical frameworks.
