Aims and Guidelines

The Victim Support Portal aims to build a community of support and guidance for victims and other people on issues of misconduct and questionable practices in research and education (e.g. victims of plagiarism, people unfairly accused of unethical actions, whistleblowers, victims of abuse, people denied credit in publications). We also welcome and provide advice to higher education institutions, publishers, academic/research integrity/ethics officers, student ambassadors, among others, who seek help and guidance on the actions to take to best support their colleagues, employees and students on their problems.

Anyone can ask a question or discuss their problems in confidence and receive support from one or more dedicated mentors (see our list of mentors here), with expertise in relevant aspects of academic and research integrity (e.g. plagiarism, publication ethics, mentorship, fabrication, data manipulation, etc.). Mentors are academics and experts from the European Network for Academic Integrity (ENAI) and the Erasmus+ FAITH (Facing Academic Integrity Threats) project, who will dedicate their time to supporting and advising people on their problems.

The aims:

  • Raise awareness about misconduct and questionable practices in research and education;
  • Provide a safe space for victims and other people to discuss their problems in confidence with a team of mentors in academic and research integrity;
  • Provide advice and guidance for victims and other people on the actions to take, according to the nature of the problems reported;
  • Build a community of support where victims of misconduct and questionable practices in research and education can share their problems and receive expert guidance and support;
  • Foster a culture of academic and research integrity in Europe and beyond.

Guidelines:

  • Anyone experiencing a problem of misconduct or questionable practice in research or education may seek support from one or more mentors, in confidence, by asking a question or discussing their situation and problems;
  • Anyone who has been unfairly disadvantaged through misconduct or questionable practices in research or education in the past may discuss their experiences, in confidence, with one or more mentors, by asking a question or explaining what happened to them;
  • All requests will be posted in private mode by default and will only be visible to mentors;
  • Where appropriate, certain requests, together with the advice provided by mentors, may be made publicly available on the Portal, but only after all personal details have been removed. This information will serve to help other people in similar situations. Approved consent is required from the person who posted the request before any case details are made publicly available;
  • All genuine requests will be assessed, and one or more mentors will be assigned to provide advice and support;
  • When posting a request, the person may choose one or more mentors from the list provided. A description of the expertise of each mentor is provided;
  • All communications between a person and mentors will be made through the Portal and in private mode;
  • Mentors may ask for further details to improve the relevance of the support and guidance they provide;
  • Mentors are not able to provide legal advice.

Feel free to contact us at victims@academicintegrity.eu if you have any questions or concerns. If you would like to be involved as a mentor, please send us an email detailing your expertise in academic or research integrity and ethics.

Disclaimer: The focus of this Portal is on the fields of academic and research integrity and ethics. ENAI/FAITH has the right to disregard any inappropriate requests. The help we can provide at any time is limited by the availability of suitable mentors with appropriate expertise.