National Competence Centre for Scientific Integrity strengthens Switzerland’s reputation in higher education

Reliability, honesty, respect and responsibility are the basic principles of academic behaviour. In return, the state, as an extension of society, guarantor of academic freedom and provider of funding, must be able to rely on academic integrity being maintained at Swiss universities and research institutions. The federal government's Research and Innovation Promotion Act therefore stipulates that academic institutions in this country must observe academic integrity and good academic practice.

Operational from 2026

There is undisputed consensus among the relevant actors that primary responsibility for taking measures to prevent academic misconduct lies with the universities and research institutions, and that the main responsibility for investigating suspected cases lies with the institutions in which the academic misconduct is suspected to have occurred. The Swiss National Science Foundation, Innosuisse and the Academies of Arts and Sciences are solely responsible for investigating and sanctioning violations pertaining to the acquisition of funding.

This proven approach, based on the principle of university autonomy, will not change with the future establishment of a National Competence Centre for Scientific Integrity. The Swiss Conference of Higher Education Institutions (SHK) intends to set up the National Competence Centre in the course of the coming year, with broad support from stakeholders such as swissuniversities, the Rectors' Conference. The aim is for the National Competence Centre to be operational from 2026.

Creation of a national data and knowledge base

Since Switzerland has so far lacked data on the number and handling of cases of academic misconduct, the centre will establish and maintain a national data and knowledge base. To this end, the institutionally accredited universities and other institutions within the higher education sector undertake to report cases of academic misconduct and the corresponding sanctions. Another important task of the KWIS will be to advise universities and individual academics. The centre will also assume a communications role and produce an annual report for the Swiss Conference of Higher Education Institutions (SHK). This will create transparency not only for political actors, but also for the public, and will also serve quality assurance.

In establishing a national centre for academic integrity, Switzerland is following the example of other European countries. Countries with comparable bodies have seen a fall in cases of academic misconduct, ensured fair and transparent treatment of cases and protected the reputation both of institutions and their countries as a location for research. All of these factors are of the utmost relevance for Switzerland's international reputation as a location for research and higher education.