Institutional Research Governance and Integrity

Honesty and integrity are prerequisites for the credibility of academic research. Swiss TPH requires observance of the rules of academic integrity and good academic practice pursuant to the following provisions.

Swiss TPH uses a governance framework built up on a range of principles and policies that regulate the institute`s research. Due to its association with the University of Basel, the Regulation on scientific integrity in research and good scientific practice of the University of Basel is a binding document. Reference is also made to the Principles and Procedures of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences` Integrity in scientific research.

Research governance ensures the delivery of high quality research. It is defined as the broad range of regulations, principles and standards of good practice that exist to achieve, and continuously improve, research quality across all aspects of healthcare and public health worldwide.

Research governance helps to improve research and safeguard the public by: 

• Protecting participants in research
• Protecting researchers/investigators
• Assessing risks and managing them
• Assuring compliance to regulations, guidelines and standards
• Enhancing ethical and scientific quality
• Promoting good practice  

Swiss TPH is committed to providing a research environment that develops good research practice and nurtures a culture of research integrity.

The Research Fairness Initiative (RFI) is a service developed by the Council on Health Research for Development to improve the fairness, efficiency and impact of research collaborations globally. It is hoped that RFI becomes the standard reporting system for fairness in scientific research collaborations. The partner-oriented approach of Swiss TPH, rooted in the principle of mutual learning for sustainable development that is implemented on a day-to-day basis, helps fulfilling our mission of contributing to health development locally, nationally and internationally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We are therefore pleased to be part of the RFI from the beginning, and we hope that our experience can help shaping the global notion, practice and evaluation of fair research.

Read the Swiss TPH Research Fairness Initiative Report 2019

Research, taking a pro-active role in fostering synergies between research and project implementation services can help achieving the goals and targets outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By bridging the gap between Research and Services for Development (R&S4D), research can pass on best practices outside academia; in turn, research takes inspiration from the most acute development needs.

Entities that work at the interface of R&S4D – such as Swiss TPH – are efficient and high-quality implementation agents as they put science to practical use and build capacity. Moreover, they give rise to professionals with qualifications that are highly relevant in the sustainable development arena.

Based on insight generated from Swiss academic and research entities, this Policy Brief aims to highlight the importance of bringing R&S4D closer, at research entities in Switzerland and elsewhere, and how to go about doing it. It presents Swiss research entities doing both types of activities and describes the benefits, needs and best practices, as well as their strategies.

Swiss TPH, KFPE and partners are identifying and describing a group of research institutions in Africa and Switzerland that pursue problem-oriented research and practical project implementation for sustainable development side-by-side. By harnessing research outcomes for improved project effectiveness, outcomes and quality, those "Research-Implementation Organisations" (RIOs), make a significant contribution to sustainable development, locally, regionally and internationally.

Science diplomacy, a tool for advancing foreign policy objectives, research and addressing global challenges, takes various forms: informing international policies with scientific evidence, facilitating global science cooperation and leveraging scientific collaboration to improve international relations. Switzerland has placed a strong emphasis on science diplomacy in recent years, formally adopting the concept at the federal level and establishing new instruments to support it. This policy brief provides an overview of Switzerland's science diplomacy ecosystem, highlighting opportunities and gaps. Recommendations focus on further strengthening Swiss science diplomacy through alignment of terminology and strategies at the federal level, fostering communication between Swiss science diplomacy actors and developing a Swissnex Africa strategy.