Commission on Scientific Integrity

At Hasselt University, our commitment to research integrity is rooted in four key principles, as defined by the ALLEA Code: reliability, honesty, respect, and accountability.

These principles are more than just words — they shape the daily choices researchers make. Whether you're managing data, citing a colleague’s work, or acknowledging contributions, good research practices turn these values into action.

Critical reflection on your research activities helps to avoid breaches of research integrity, such as plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or failing to disclose conflicts of interest. These pitfalls can undermine the trust and credibility of science.

Hasselt University encourages researchers to help build a strong foundation of integrity, by striving for transparency and fairness in all aspects of research. By championing these principles, we ensure that our work is not only innovative, but also trustworthy, responsible, and future-oriented.

the Commission for Scientific Integrity, also called the Commissie Wetenschappelijke Integriteit (CWI) in Dutch, was established by the Board of Governors at Hasselt University in 2013. 

The CWI is responsible for: 

• reviewing reports of problematic behavior and formulating recommendations for appropriate actions based on our policy of scientific integrity;

• suggesting procedural adjustments if necessary;

• examining questions about scientific integrity, either independently on behalf of the Research Council, the Doctoral School Board, the Board of Deans and/or the Board of Governors.

The scope and the procedures of the CWI are detailed in its procedural regulation (only available in Dutch).

Do you have concerns about a possible violation of research integrity—such as fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or other questionable research practices?

The CWI primarily handles reports concerning researchers who were affiliated with UHasselt at the time of the alleged misconduct, and where the conduct occurred in the context of their UHasselt-related activities.

You can contact the Commission for Scientific Integrity (CWI) in one of the following ways:

By email: CWI@uhasselt.be

By post:
Commission Scientific Integrity 
Research Coordination Office – Hasselt University
Martelarenlaan 42
3500 HASSELT

All reports are treated with strict confidentiality and in accordance with the applicable procedures.

Anyone involved in a CWI procedure, including the accused, the reporter and the institution, may request a second opinion from the Flemish Commission for Scientific Integrity or Vlaamse Commissie voor Wetenschappelijke Integriteit (VCWI). This second opinion must be submitted to the VCWI within a month following the decision of the University College VCWI.

The VCWI was established in October 2013 on the initiative of the Scientific Research Fund. It offers advise on specific files which are already considered in one or more of the committees for scientific integrity within the Flemish universities, as well as broader issues related to scientific integrity in Flanders.

Contact the VCWI at secretaris@vcwi.be.