Ethics Commission

Research is one of the mainstays of the Swiss Distance University Institute with the aim of consolidating its position on the Swiss and international university landscape. In order to guarantee the proportionality of the research experiments and the protection of the participants, the Distance Learning University set up an Ethics Commission. This has been effective since 26th April 2019 and is based on international guidelines (Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, ASA Code of Ethics).

The main task of the Ethics Commission is to examine the various research activities of the Distance Learning University. Its goal is to guarantee the proportionate nature of the work carried out as well as the protection of the participants in the experiments. The researchers at the Distance Learning University can carry out empirical research into human beings only if the Ethics Commission has given its approval.

The Ethics Commission is currently made up of eight members (four per language):

• Matthias Maalouli-Hartmann, Chairman of the Commission and representative of the professors/lecturers (de)
• Simon Schnyder, representative of the part-time lecturers (fr)
• Klaus Mathis, representative of the part-time lecturers (de)
• Andrea Samson, representative of the professors/lecturers (fr)
• Jean-Christian Tisserand, representative of the intermediary body (fr)
• Laura Niederhauser, representative of the intermediary body (de)
• Alexandra d’Agata Botta, representative of the students (fr)
• Theo Kaeser, representative of the students (de)

Each new request will be examined by the members of the Ethics commission in accordance with the regulations.

Only the members of the Distance Learning University faculties can submit a request. The research work which forms part of a larger project (e.g. students’ degree thesis) must be submitted by the research group leader.

The request should be sent directly by e-mail using the forms available on line.

Contact: ethique@remove-this.unidistance.ch