Good academic practice

Quality assurance in research begins at the level of the doctoral programme, which was completely redesigned in 2009 and now includes quality assurance elements at all stages (including a public presentation of the doctoral thesis project at the faculty and the conclusion of a doctoral thesis agreement specifying the rights and obligations of doctoral candidates and supervisors).

The University of Vienna is committed to conducting responsible research that respects the dignity and integrity of humans, animals and the environment. The Ethics Committee established by the University of Vienna reviews research projects at the request of academics with regard to possible ethical issues before the project start.

The Ombuds Office for Ensuring Compliance with Good Academic Practiceis the first point of contact for researchers who are raising allegations concerning academic misconduct. Its tasks also include advising university members on questions of academic integrity.

Research assessment at the University of Vienna ensures that academic achievements are assessed fairly, transparently and qualitatively. It takes into account not only publications, but also teaching, collaboration, openness and social impact in order to promote a holistic view of excellent research.

The University of Vienna is also a founding member of the Austrian Agency for Scientific Integrity (OeAWI), contributes to its work and follows its recommendations.

Important links:

• Ethics Committee of the University of Vienna
• Ombuds Office of the University of Vienna
• Research assessment
• Studienpräses

Plagiarism checks are carried out both by supervisors and by the directorates of studies. All teachers have to instruct students to adhere to the principles of good academic practice as part of their teaching activities. To ensure this ongoing quality control, academic theses are electronically checked for text similarities. These checks are carried out at the level of the directorates of studies.

The Studienpräses of the University of Viennais responsible for dealing with plagiarism allegations with regard to all academic theses (not only with regard to doctoral theses).

There is also the option of (self-)reporting plagiarism. In recent years, this has occurred on average three to four times per year at the University of Vienna. Plagiarism allegations are immediately investigated to determine whether they are justified. If the suspicion is confirmed, the University initiates a procedure for investigating plagiarism. Especially at this stage, (external) subject experts are consulted. In this context, the University of Vienna also cooperates with the Austrian Agency for Scientific Integrity.

Since 2005, there have been 53 procedures for investigating plagiarism – academic degrees have been revoked in 26 of these cases.

For the purpose of quality assurance, all academic theses at the University of Vienna are checked for plagiarism. The directorates of studies and/or supervisors are responsible for deciding whether a thesis is approved for assessment.

This process starts with an automated workflow: Students independently upload their theses to a plagiarism detection system. This tool conducts an initial check for text similarities within 24 hours and generates a report. In a next step, the directorate of studies check the thesis, and take action if they suspect plagiarism.

A text similarity does not necessarily mean plagiarism. On the contrary, if a quotation is correctly cited, the text passage is also identical – and accompanied by a reference to the source, thus making it a correct and permissible quotation. To assess whether plagiarism has occurred or whether the text similarities are due to correct citation practices, an electronic check for text similarities is therefore not enough. Rather, the decision requires the expertise of competent persons.

Finally, in case of plagiarism, it is also necessary to determine whether the student acted with intent, i.e. whether they wrote the plagiarised text with the aim of obtaining a positive assessment for an achievement that was not their own.

It should be noted that the University of Vienna is fully committed to ensuring compliance with good academic practice and does not tolerate academic misconduct by its members. In the event of suspected plagiarism, the University initiates a procedure to check the allegations. Whether the misconduct is sufficiently serious to merit the revocation of an academic degree is decided on a case-by-case basis. The decision is based on the findings of the expert opinions obtained. Comparisons between different cases of plagiarism are very rarely possible or permissible from an academic perspective.

Usually, various parameters must be considered, in particular the extent and intent of the misconduct. The extent of the plagiarised passages is naturally taken into account for the decision. However, the percentage of plagiarised passages in relation to the entire thesis alone is by no means a sufficient basis for a decision.

Among others, the following questions/aspects are used to decide whether a thesis is a case of plagiarism:

• What is the extent of the plagiarism? (e.g. is the extent quantitatively significant?)
• Which sections of the thesis contain plagiarised passages? (in relation to the research conducted and the discipline; do the plagiarised passages present key findings?)
• Is the plagiarism ‘thesis-defining’?
• Do the plagiarised passages contain evidence of an intention to deceive or mislead?