Code of Ethics

Article 1

Introductory provisions

1. Code of ethics (the "code") sets out the basic principles of ethical conduct at work and study at the Bratislava University of Economics and Business (hereinafter referred to as the "EUBA").
2. The code applies to all employees and students of the EUBA.
3. The Code reflects the interest of the staff and students of the EUBA to promote human values and decent academic environment and to follow ethical values and the requirements of this code.

Article 2

Academic freedoms and academic rights

1. The Bratislava University of Economics and Business guarantees the following academic freedoms and academic rights:
   1. freedom of scientific work and research,
   2. freedom to choose the subject, methods, and procedures in scientific research activities,
   3. freedom to publish the results of scientific exploration and research
   4. freedom of teaching, particularly in terms of openness to different scientific opinions, scientific and research methods,
   5. the right to freely express and publish their opinions (hereinafter collectively referred to as "academic freedoms"). 
2. The exercise of academic freedom must be in accordance with the principles of democracy, humanity, and the legal order of the Slovak Republic.
3. EUBA employees and students embrace the following values:
   1. autonomy, moral and scientific independence from politics and respect for academic freedom,
   2. the inseparability of educational activities from science and research,
   3. critical thinking,
   4. rejecting intolerance and promoting dialogue,
   5. the traditions and values of democracy and European humanism,
   6. promoting interaction between cultures,
   7. equal opportunities.

Article 3

General principles of ethical conduct for employees and students

1. EUBA employees and students:
   
   1. base their behavior and decision-making on the principles of humanity, respect, human dignity, moral rights, justice, and responsibility,
   2. they are guided by basic human moral principles and values in their work and studies,
   3. comply with and require compliance with the principles of this code from their colleagues or classmates,
   4. are aware that ethics is important for the quality of their work and studies, that it guarantees proper academic conduct, is part of university culture, and strengthens the university's reputation,
   5. base their relationships on mutual respect and tolerance, recognize each other's rights and obligations, respect each other's opinions, political affiliations, and religious beliefs (as long as they do not restrict the rights of others), do not tolerate discrimination (based on age, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, etc.),
   6. respect academic rights and academic freedoms and maintain an apolitical approach on academic grounds,
   7. do not defend or cover up behavior that is contrary to the principles set out in this codex, even by referring to necessary obedience or loyalty,
   8. they shall not allow any conflict of interest arising from their position at the EUBA and related activities and their private interests,
   9. demonstrate a high degree of solidarity with the EUBA and actively participate in university life,
   10. protect the interests of the EUBA and act in its interests, they are tolerant, they show solidarity and politeness,
   11. they are fully committed to their work at the EUBA, both professionally and personally,
   12. they support behavior aimed at developing a favorable and friendly organizational climate in the work environment,
   13. they respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all other employees and students regardless of their job position or function, defend freedom of thought, expression, exchange of opinions and information,
   14. they are aware of their responsibility for their work, are open to different scientific opinions, approach their duties honestly and responsibly, comply with regulations and institutional rules, 
   15. they consider pedagogical and scientific work and any other creative work to be an integral contribution to the development of human knowledge, culture, innovation, and general benefit, and defend it against unjust questioning or abuse, protect the results obtained at EUBA from misuse and will not disclose them to third parties without adequate protection of intellectual and material property rights,
   16. they reject plagiarism and unethical scientific practices,
   17. they promote anti-corruption behavior, do not request or accept material or other benefits from other persons in connection with the performance of their work; refuse gifts from students, their parents, or other persons, refuse interventions in favor of students,
   18. they represent the EUBA responsibly in public, take care of the EU's good reputation in Bratislava, above all by not abusing it for personal gain,
   19. they reject deliberate harm to another colleague or workplace, spreading false information, slander, defamation, and other unethical forms of bossing and mobbing in the workplace,
   20. they refrain from any form of sexual harassment of other colleagues or students,
   21. they do not misuse the spiritual, material, and financial resources entrusted to them for their own enrichment or to harm the public interest and the interests of the EUBA, take a responsible approach to the effective use of financial resources from public and other sources,
   22. if they have official access to confidential information, they shall only disclose such information in accordance with the law and organizational standards of the EUBA,
   23. they use the EUBA property considerately in their work and, to the best of their ability, protect it from misuse or damage; when working with information and communication technologies, they do not use illegal software and comply with the rules for working on the university computer network; they shall not use the research infrastructure for any purpose other than creative activities carried out
       within the framework of their employment relationship with the EUBA, they shall promote responsible behavior focused on the economical use of available university equipment and property, energy conservation, and waste recycling,
   24. they implement a careful and responsible approach to the environment and support sustainable development. In Bratislava, they take into account the environmental dimension of all their activities, ensuring the environmental sustainability and compatibility of all university activities with the need to protect public funds and resources.
   25. report any potential or actual conflict of interest to the Ethics committee or the Rector.

Article 4

Principles of ethical behavior in an educational and scientific research activities

1. EUBA employee (depending on their job classification):
   
   1. strives to create collegial and fair relationships, does not ridicule colleagues in front of students and does not comment on their personalities, teaching styles, or methods, does not display false collegiality,
   2. when solving work and scientific grant tasks, he/she shows a willingness to consult and cooperate,
   3. opposes the unethical and inappropriate use of scientific knowledge,
   4. maintains an objective attitude towards his own findings and results, as well as those of his colleagues, is open to discussion and factual arguments,
   5. rejects the use of unscientific approaches, racist, nationalistic, and ideological perspectives, and correctly applies political and religious perspectives in their pedagogical, scientific research, and other creative work,
   6. always treats students on the basis of an objective, fair, and critical assessment of their abilities, knowledge, efforts, and other personal characteristics in order to preserve their dignity,
   7. acts impartially and objectively when classifying study results,
   8. communicates with students in a respectful manner, does not resort to underestimating, humiliating, or disparaging them in any way,
   9. does not require students to perform tasks that are part of his or her own duties and does not place unreasonable demands on them,
   10. sets an example for students, passes on their knowledge, skills, and experience to them, and conscientiously adheres to the rules established for the organization of teaching,
   11. develops independent, critical thinking and a responsible approach to work in its students, respects their right to freedom of expression,
   12. focuses its activities on expanding the boundaries of human knowledge, developing values and education,
   13. when collecting, selecting, and evaluating data, it shall be based on general principles (Article 3) while respecting the specific characteristics of its field,
   14. employee – researcher – perceives and carries out scientific, research, and development activities as a means of increasing the level of knowledge of society as a whole and as a means of active self-education, which leads to the improvement of teaching students and young scientists; in performing scientific, research, and development activities, they are guided primarily by the European Code of Conduct for the Integrity of Scientific Research,
   15. when publishing findings and results of research or scientific research activities, they are responsible for their verifiability and interpret them without distortion, ensure that their own research is original, objectively acknowledge the contributions of others, and always cite and refer to relevant sources correctly and accurately in their work.
   16. prepares assessments, reviews, or other evaluations personally, independently, and carefully, is not subject to external pressure, and follows the client's instructions and their own judgment based on their professional expertise to the best of their knowledge and belief, creating the conditions for an objective review process,
   17. respects and protects the intellectual property rights of the authors of the manuscripts, project proposals, or reports under review, respects the confidentiality of information related to his or her evaluation and expert activities, and, as an evaluator, does not intentionally prolong the review process for the purpose of obtaining personal benefits or benefits for third parties,
   18. does not publish in an ethically questionable manner and does not use ethically questionable publishing platforms,
   19. is fully responsible for their research, in particular for its quality and credibility, is responsible for selecting appropriate working procedures and methods,
   20. actively works to popularize science and research, considers it natural to make the results of his research activities available at the level and under the conditions customary for the scientific field in which he/she works,
   21. is obliged to ensure that research data are processed in accordance with FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Intedroperable, Reusable),
   22. when using artificial intelligence in scientific work, it is mandatory to disclose this fact in accordance with the rules of research integrity,
   23. considers the potential social and ethical implications of their research, particularly when working with vulnerable groups, environmental resources, or intellectual property.

Article 5

Principles of ethical conduct for students

1. The EUBA students:
   1. has the right to their own opinion, which does not restrict dignity and humanity, the right to respect and fair dialogue from EUBA employees, as well as from other members of the student community,
      
   2. maintains decency, respect, and consideration for the opinions of EUBA employees and other members of the student community,
      
   3. actively opposes all manifestations of extremism, racism, discrimination, religious intolerance, social intolerance, and disparagement of sexual orientation, and rejects anything that may offend human dignity,
      
   4. is responsible for their conduct on campus and in public, for their academic performance and results, for their behavior towards EUBA employees, for their relationship to EUBA property,
      
   5. behaves in a representative manner in public, does not discredit the good name of EUBA employees and members of the student community, does not behave in a manner contrary to good morals,
      
   6. promotes student integrity, opposes unethical practices,
   7. refrains from unethical behavior, improper conduct in studies and practices that discredit the academic environment, studies, and good relations between employees and students; refrains from plagiarism, fraud, bribery or attempted bribery of teachers, manipulation, and falsification of information for the purpose of gaining advantages,
   8. disseminates new scientific knowledge and demands them,
      
   9. participates in the educational process and examinations in clean and appropriate clothing.

Article 6

The Ethics Committee

1. The EUBA Ethics Committee (hereinafter also referred to as the "Ethics Committee") has been established to assess and discuss cases of violation of this Codex.
2. The Ethics Committee is an independent expert and advisory body to the Rector of the EUBA. The composition of the Ethics Committee and its procedures are determined by the Rules of Procedure of the EUBA Ethics Committee.
3. A complaint regarding a violation of the principles of this code may be filed by an employee or student of EUBA (hereinafter referred to as the "complainant") in writing directly to the rector of EUBA or to the address of the Ethics Committee, published on the EUBA website, by post or via the EUBA registry.
4. The report of a violation must be specific and concrete, i.e. it must include the name of the person who violated the ethical principles, a description of the violation, and the name of the person reporting it. The report must be signed by the reporter, stating whether the reporter wishes to remain anonymous. The principle of anonymity must be respected. Anonymous reports of violations of this codex will not be considered.
5. In cases of serious violations of ethical principles, the Ethics Committee may recommend that the rector, dean, or relevant authority take measures in accordance with applicable legislation and internal regulations of the EUBA.
6. The Ethics Committee assesses compliance with research integrity and research ethics and comments on the implementation of research integrity and research ethics.

Article 7

Education in ethics and research integrity

1. The Bratislava University of Economics and Business provides appropriate and systematic training for staff and students in ethics and research integrity, which is regularly updated in line with national and international standards of integrity and ethical conduct.

Article 8

Final provisions

1. This Code of Ethics shall enter into force and effect on the date of its issuance.
2. Upon the entry into force of this Code, the Code of Ethics dated April 12, 2018 shall cease to have force and effect.
3. Addendum No. 1 shall enter into force and effect on the date of its signing

Bratislava, 14. 12. 2022

Prof. Ferdinand Daňo,
Rector
of the Bratislava University of Economics and Business

Rules of procedure of the Ethics Committee of the Bratislava University of Economics and Business

(annex to the ethics code of the Bratislava University of Economics and Business, Slovakia)

Article 1

Introductory provisions

1. The details of the composition and the manner of deliberation of the Ethics Committee shall be regulated by the Rules of Procedure of the Ethics Committee.
2. The purpose of the Ethics Committee is to assess possible violations of Code of Ethics at EUBA (hereinafter also referred to as the "Code of Ethics" or "Code").
3. The Ethics Committee is autonomous in its position and deliberations.
4. The Ethics Committee may propose possible suggestions for improving the content of the Code to the Rector.
5. The Ethics Committee submits an annual report on its activities to the Rector.
6. The commission's activities are not legally binding; they are understood as activities that help clarify the situation in order to prevent unethical behavior.

Article 2

Members of the Ethics Committee

1. The Ethics Committee has 9 members.
2. Proposals for members of the Ethics Committee are submitted to the Rector.
3. The members of the Ethics Committee are appointed and dismissed by the Rector.
4. The dean's council of each faculty nominates one member of the Ethics committee from among the teaching staff, one member of the Ethics Committee from among non-teaching staff is nominated by the Basic Organization of the Trade Union of employees in Education and Science at the EUBA, and one member of the Ethics Committee is nominated by the student section of the Academic Senate of the EUBA from among the students.
5. At their first meeting, the members of the Ethics Committee shall elect a chairperson and vicechairperson of the Ethics Committee.
6. The chair of the Ethics Committee performs mainly the following tasks:
   1. convenes and chairs meetings of the Ethics Committee,
   2. coordinates the activities of the Ethics Committee between its meetings (in particular by means of per rollam procedure),
   3. in cooperation with the secretary of the Ethics Committee, he/she prepares the agenda for the meetings of the Ethics Committee,
   4. is responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules of procedure of the Ethics Committee, oversees compliance with the principles of objectivity, transparency, and confidentiality,
7. The Vice-Chair of the Ethics Committee shall fully represent the Chair in his or her absence or in the event that the Chair of the Ethics Committee has a conflict of interest in the matters under discussion.
8. Membership in the Ethics Committee is incompatible with the position of Rector of the EUBA and the Dean of the Faculty, the Secretary of the Faculty, and the Bursar.
9. The term of office of the Ethics Committee is 4 years and begins on the date specified in the appointment decree.
10. Membership in the Ethics Committee shall terminate upon expiry of the term of office, written resignation, dismissal by the Rector of EUBA, conviction for an intentional criminal offense, termination of employment, or termination of studies at the EUBA, or death.
11. The conditions for membership in the Ethics Committee are:
    1. a written consent of the proposed person to be appointed as a member of the Ethics committee,
    2. a written consent to the publication of their name, surname, workplace, and information about their membership in the Ethics committee,
    3. a written confidentiality agreement covering all confidential matters relating to membership of the Ethics committee, or to the work of an employee responsible for the administrative agenda of the Ethics committee, or to the work of an expert advisor invited to attend a meeting of the Ethics committee in accordance with the proposal discussed,
    4. a written commitment to report any facts that could lead to a conflict of interest in relation to membership of the Ethics Committee or in relation to a specific matter being discussed by the Ethics Committee to the Rector of the EUBA.
12. The administrative agenda of the Ethics Committee is handled by the secretary of the Ethics Committee, an employee of the Rector's Office appointed by the Rector of the EUBA.
13. The provisions of point 11 (c) of this article shall apply to the employee responsible for the agenda of the Ethics committee and to the expert advisors invited to the Ethics committee meeting in accordance with Article 3 (3).

Article 3

How the Ethics Committee works

1. The Ethics Committee meets as necessary, but at least once per calendar year.
2. Meetings of the Ethics Committee are convened and chaired by the Chair of the Ethics Committee or, in his/her absence, by the Vice-Chair of the Ethics Committee.
3. Participants or expert advisors may be invited to attend the Ethics committee meeting.
4. The Ethics Committee ensures compliance with the Code of Research Integrity and Ethics in Slovakia by: 
   1. providing ethical expertise for research projects in high-risk areas (e.g., personal data, vulnerable persons, AI),
   2. assessing research integrity and ethics based on a request from the principal investigator of the project or research, in which he or she declares compliance with the principles of research integrity and ethics.
   3. coordinating education in the field of ethics and research integrity,
   4. cooperating with national and international institutions in the field of ethics and research integrity.
5. The Ethics Committee carries out activities of a conceptual and preventive nature and activities of a proposal and sanctioning nature.
6. Activities of a conceptual and preventive nature include, in particular:
   1. advisory and consulting activities focused on compliance with the code of ethics,
   2. regular compilation of a catalogue of activities of the Ethics Committee resulting from its connection to the "Declaration on Strengthening the Culture of Scientific Integrity in Slovakia,"
   3. articipation in the comment procedure for EUBA documents and regulations (if necessary and requested by the EUBA management),
   4. participation in other EUBA activities and projects (especially in the process of implementing the Declaration on Strengthening the Culture of Scientific Integrity in Slovakia, the project “EUBA on the Road to HR Award”, the European Ethics Bowl project, etc.).
7. Activities of a proposal and sanctioning nature include the discussion of submissions and proposals, related to breaches of ethics and research integrity.
8. If the report of a violation of the Code is in the form of a complaint, the procedure shall be in accordance with the applicable internal regulations of the EU in Bratislava relating to the submission, verifying, and recording reports submitted pursuant to Act No. 307/2014 Coll. on certain measures related to the reporting of anti-social activity and on amendments to certain acts. Such a proposal is not discussed by the Ethics committee.
9. Violations of the principles of this code in the case of EUBA students are dealt with by the Ethics Committee, unless the violation of the principles of this code is considered a disciplinary offense and falls within the competence of the Disciplinary Committee of the relevant EUBA faculty.
10. A complaint regarding a violation of the principles of this code may be filed by an employee or student of EUBA(hereinafter referred to as the "whistleblower") in writing directly to the Rector of EUBA or to the address of the Ethics Committee published on the EUBA website, either by post or through the EUBA registry office. The complaint can also be submitted via an electronic form published on the EUBA website.
11. Every report of a violation of the principles of this code is recorded in a report book, which is kept at the EUBA Rector's Office.
12. The Ethics Committee shall review the submissions within 1 month of their delivery to the Chair of the Ethics Committee and decide whether to proceed with them.
13. The secretary of the Ethics committee, who is responsible for the administrative agenda of the Ethics committee, shall prepare minutes of the Ethics committee meeting. 
14. The Ethics Committee reports on its activities to the Rector of EUBA once a year, always by January 31 of the current calendar year for the previous calendar year.
15. The Ethics Committee has a quorum if a majority of all its members are present. Decisions and opinions of the Ethics Committee are approved by a majority vote of the members present.
16. The Ethics Committee guarantees the protection of participants' confidentiality, while respecting the principles of transparency in decision-making processes. If necessary, a reasoned anonymized opinion on the discussion of the proposal shall be published.
17. The proceedings of the Ethics Committee are not public.
18. The proceedings, materials discussed, and minutes related to the activities of the Ethics Committee are confidential.
19. The Ethics Committee will assess the complaint with a rating: no violation, minor violation, or serious violation of the code.
20. The chair of the ethics committee shall inform the persons concerned of the results of the proceedings within two weeks of the discussion of the complaint.
21. The Ethics Committee will refuse to consider complaints that are vulgar, non-specific, or ideological in nature, or that insult human dignity or discredit the EUBA and its entities.
22. Every person has the right to submit a written request for review of the opinion of the Ethics committee. This request is assessed by the rector of the EUBA or an authority authorized by him.

Article 4

Research integrity and research ethics review process

1. The subject of assessment in terms of research integrity and research ethics is any scientific research, or related publication and project activities, carried out at the EUBA. Also, it is a scientific research activity that requires an institutional position.
2. The ethical principles assessment process sets out the procedure for requesting and obtaining a statement confirming that scientific research, publication, and project activities meet the criteria of research integrity and ethics.
3. To obtain an opinion, it is necessary to submit a "Request for an opinion of the EU Ethics Committee in Bratislava on compliance with ethical principles of research" (Annex 1), and attach all documents specified in the application. The complete application must be submitted electronically to the following address: eticka.komisia@euba.sk.
4. The opinion may be requested by the responsible project manager or scientific research task manager. The application is submitted in accordance with the requirements for the preparation, implementation, or publication of research.
5. The Ethics Committee at the EUBA will assess the submitted application in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Ethics Committee and issue an opinion (Annex 2) within 14 working days of receiving the complete application.
6. If the criteria for research integrity and ethics are met, the Ethics Committee will issue a Certificate of Ethical Conduct (Annex No. 3). 
7. In the case of failure to meet the criteria of research integrity and ethics in research, the Ethics Committee shall issue a negative opinion with justification and proposals for adjustments to the project or research. The responsible researcher may request a reassessment after modifying the project or research.

Article 5

Final Provisions

1. To discuss a complaint against a member of the Ethics Committee, the Rector of the EUBA appoints a substitute member of the Ethics Committee for the duration of the discussion, based on a proposal from the faculty where the member of the Ethics Committee is employed, or based on a proposal from the ZO OZPŠaV at the EUBA, or based on a proposal from the student section of the Academic Senate of the EUBA.
2. To discuss a complaint against a member of the Ethics Committee, the Rector of the EUBA appoints a substitute member of the Ethics Committee for the duration of the discussion, based on a proposal from the faculty where the member of the Ethics Committee is employed, or based on a proposal from the ZO OZPŠaV at the EUBA, or based on a proposal from the student section of the Academic Senate of the EUBA.
3. This Code of Ethics shall enter into force and effect on the date of its issuance.
4. Upon the entry into force and effect of this internal regulation, the Rules of Procedure of the Ethics Committee of the EUBA, which form an annex to the Code of Ethics dated April 12, 2018, shall cease to be valid and effective.
5. Annex No. 1 to this internal regulation shall enter into force on the date of its signing.

Prof. Ferdinand Daňo
Rector
of the Bratislava University of Economics and Business

List of members of the ethics committee

Chairman

Assoc. prof. Dipl. Ing. Eva JANČÍKOVÁ, PhD. - Faculty of International Relations

Vice-chairman

Assoc. prof. Dipl. Ing. Zuzana FRANCOVÁ, PhD. - Faculty of Commerce

Members

1. Prof. Dipl. Ing. Eva MUCHOVÁ, PhD. - Faculty of Economics and Finance
2. Assoc. prof. Dipl. Ing. Zuzana FRANCOVÁ, PhD. - Faculty of Commerce
3. Assoc. prof. Dipl. Ing. Marian REIFF, PhD. - Faculty of Economic Informatics
4. Assoc. prof. Dipl. Ing. Nora GRISÁKOVÁ, PhD. - Faculty of Business Management
5. Assoc. prof. Dipl. Ing. Eva JANČÍKOVÁ, PhD. - Faculty of International Relations
6. PhDr. Roman KVAPIL, PhD. - Faculty of Applied Languages
7. Assoc. prof. Dipl. Ing. Magdaléna FREŇÁKOVÁ, PhD. - Faculty of Business Economics with seat in Košice
8. Mgr. Dagmar KRAUSOVÁ - Rada ZO OZ PŠaV
9. Dipl. Ing. Radovan KOPÁL - EUBA Student Parliament

Contact: eticka.komisia@euba.sk