Guidelines Hanze UAS

Researchers at Hanze University must comply with the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (2018), the Open Science Policy (2023) and the Research Data Policy (2023), among other things.

The Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity is committed to quality and reliability of science; its guiding principles are honesty, diligence, transparency, independence and accountability. Good data management is focused primarily on transparency of research and the ability to verify and replicate research results.

 
The Open Science policy is also striving for transparency, and calls for making research data publicly available as much as possible, and to a wide audience. Its main goal is that research results, including reusable datasets, benefit society as a whole as much as possible. 

The Hanze Research Data Policy (see below) provides specific starting points for how data should be managed carefully, transparently, and openly at Hanze University.

The Hanze Research Data Policy (2023) was drafted on the basis that research, and therefore the underlying research data, must be transparent and verifiable. Hanze University therefore asks its researchers to:
 

...to handle research data carefully during and after the completion of the research, to preserve research data permanently and make them openly accessible as much as possible.

The research data policy in brief:

• For each research project, one researcher is responsible for managing the research data. At the start of the research, they establish which datasets will be created, how these datasets will be managed. They also arrange agreements with research partners about ownership and use of the data.
• For grant applications, the researcher considers the requirements, costs and grant opportunities for data management.
• Research data are stored on a secure storage location; security and access rights are in line with codes of conduct and legislation (e.g. GDPR).
• Research data are stored and described in such a way that they are understandable and accessible in the event of a calamity.
• Upon termination of a researcher's employment, research data are transferred to the professor. 
• Research data are permanently archived upon completion of the research, and are published for further research

Which data should be removed? All research data needed to support research outcomes or that have value for reuse, should be kept. All other data, most notably any personal information of research participants, should be removed once they are no longer needed (e.g. contact information for making an appointment). 

When should the data be removed? Research data will be retained for at least 5 years after the end of the research. The retention period should be specified in the DMP.

The Hanze Ethical Review Board (HEAC) provides advice and guidance to all research areas at Hanze University on ethical aspects of research, including advising on submission to a Medical Ethical Review Committee. The committee may issue a formal letter of approval to researchers to substantiate ethical justification. The board only provides advice and review prior to research, including on handling personal data and other ethical aspects in research.

Please visit the HEAC webpage for a complete overview of what the Committee does and does not advise on. For questions you can also contact the official secretary of the HEAC at heac@org.hanze.nl.

Data management plan

An integral part of the application for ethics review is the preparation of a data management plan (DMP). A well-written DMP gives the review committee insight into what research data are collected or generated, how they are managed throughout the research process, and how any privacy and/or security risks are minimized. Once submitted, the DMP will be reviewed by one of the Information Specialists Research. You can read more about writing a DMP in this guide under the Data Management Plan (DMP) tab.

Self-check ethical aspects in research

The Ethical Review Board has developed a simple digital self-check that gives you a quick indication of the level of ethical risk in research. You can do the self-check by completing a web form; a copy and the results will be sent to your e-mail address.