Temporary committee on collaborations publishes advice
How can the university decide which partners to work with and why? This is a question many of us have, both within and outside our community. The advice presented by the Temporary Committee on Assessing Ethical Aspects of Collaborations should provide answers.
The report contains specific suggestions on how to assess current and future partnerships. The temporary committee, chaired by former dean and Professor of Criminology Joanne van der Leun, was established in mid-2024 at the request of Rector Magnificus Hester Bijl. The advice emphasises the need to balance academic freedom, the basis of the university, with the responsibility for the partners we choose to work with.
Tasks and advice
The temporary committee had three tasks:
- prepare advice on sensitive collaborations in general;
- advise on the assessment of ethical aspects, including human rights;
- suggest a procedure for assessing collaborations in conflict zones such as Israel-Palestine.
The temporary committee advises the Executive Board to be alert to ethical aspects of collaborations, and to take decisions about them consciously and with clear substantiation. It emphasises the freedom of individual researchers. Careful considerations should largely be made within the departments and institutes. Greater awareness and support are needed in this regard.
Freedom not naivety
It most also be clear when intended collaborations should be submitted to a committee. ‘Formulating and expressing opinions with regard to political conflicts, be they national or international, is not among the primary functions of universities’, says the advice. ‘Therefore, administrators of universities and faculties should not interfere in research or teaching or keep such interference as minimal as possible, making only role-appropriate interventions.’ This corresponds with Rector Hester Bijl’s desire to guarantee the greatest possible academic freedom, without being naive. This will prevent any direct contribution to serious human rights violations.
Boards should therefore have the opportunity to receive specific advice via a committee.
The starting point is a learning-based approach that can be fine-tuned along the way. A further piece of advice is to incorporate the existing Knowledge Security, Fossil Fuel Collaborations and Donations (via the LUF) initiatives within in an integrated procedure.
Conflict zones
The Executive Board also asked the temporary committee for a proposal on how to evaluate existing institutional collaborations in serious conflict areas, starting with Israel-Palestine. The committee advises the Executive Board to include this question in the overarching procedure and to submit it to the Ethical Aspects committee chamber within the Sensitive Collaborations committee. The committee would consist of a core group supplemented with expertise relevant to a particular case.
The committee chamber should look at the specific combination of partner, activity and context. A key question is whether the collaboration partner is involved in or contributes to armed conflicts, serious and systematic human rights violations, or fundamental ethical principles/binding provisions of international law. A clear shelf life for the advice will also be requested, so that account can be taken of changing situations, for example.
Increase expertise, involve other universities
The Ethical Aspects committee chamber might comprise expertise in human rights, regional and conflict studies and ethics. If necessary, the wider academic community can provide input in an appropriate instrument, such as an online survey, ethical debate or through the University Council or faculty board, as representatives of the university. The temporary committee has learned a great deal from its consultations with other, mainly Dutch, universities, and advises looking at how to ensure work or research is not duplicated.
‘Important step’
The Executive Board, University Council and Board of Governors have discussed the temporary committee’s advice.
Rector Magnificus Hester Bijl is positive about the results, ‘The temporary committee’s advice will enable the university to raise awareness about our collaborations. The committee will help ensure we do not actively work on projects that do not align with our goals and values. This is an important step for our university. Opinions differ about these kinds of assessments, but a clear process and mutual dialogue will ensure we make progress.’
The University Council has asked the Executive Board to act quickly on the Israel-Palestine case. The other committee members will be appointed in the coming period, and a special team from the Strategy and Academic Affairs Directorate will make preparations for handling cases that are submitted.
Read the full advice by the Temporary Committee on Assessing Ethical Aspects of Collaborations.