VIRT²UE: A European Train-the-Trainer Programme for Teaching Research Integrity

Abstract

Universities and other research institutions are increasingly providing additional training in research integrity (RI) in an attempt to improve the quality and reliability of research. Various training courses have been developed, with diverse learning goals and content. Despite the importance of training that focuses on moral character and professional virtues, there remains a lack of training taking a virtue ethics approach to teaching research integrity. To address this, we, a European Commission funded consortium, have designed a train-the-trainer (TtT) programme for research integrity. The programme is guided by the theoretical and conceptual frameworks of 1) virtue ethics, 2) ethos of science, 3) learning by doing, and 4) learner-centred teaching. The programme follows a blended learning approach, combining online modules with group sessions using participatory exercises. Trainers are taught how to guide researchers through a series of structured exercises for fostering reflection on scientific virtues, and how to promote understanding of the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and its application in practice. Trainers experience the programme as participants and learn how to deliver the content themselves. Trainers are provided with adaptable tools and resources that can be used and combined in different ways in their own teaching. The programme implementation began in Spring 2020 and 470 trainers have participated in the programme to date. When trainers who had participated in the programme were asked to grade – between 0 (very bad) and 10 (excellent) – the online modules and the participatory exercises, 60% scored a grade 8 or higher (median = 8, IQR = 2) for the e-learning modules, whereas 80% scored a grade 8 or higher (median = 9, IQR = 1) for the participatory exercises. A majority felt that the training helped them as a trainer to learn about ways to organize and teach a research integrity course (82%) and would recommend the interactive exercises to others (92%). At the moment, trainers have educated over 3300 researchers in Europe using core elements of our virtue-based approach. The VIRT2UE TtT programme fosters research integrity by providing trainers with exercises and tools which enable them to stimulate the development of good researchers across Europe.

Ähnliche Arbeiten