Tohoku Gakuin University takes a firm stance against research misconduct and is committed to promoting fair research activities by establishing systems and related regulations to prevent research misconduct by those engaged in academic research and those who support it.

1. Basic Policy

2. Code of Conduct

3. Responsibility system

4. The role of the person in charge

chief administrative officer

This university will formulate a basic policy for preventing research misconduct and take the necessary measures to implement it. Furthermore, regarding the use of research funds, we will strive to eliminate factors that induce misconduct, build an environment and system with sufficient deterrent functions, and ultimately assume responsibility.

Chief Management Officer

Assisting the Chief Executive Officer, this role involves formulating and implementing specific measures based on the basic policies established by the Chief Executive Officer, and monitoring their implementation status. Additionally, it oversees the management and operation of research funds at the university.

Compliance Promotion Officer

Under the direction of the overall management supervisor, the following countermeasures will be implemented.

1. ① Each department will implement countermeasures, confirm the implementation status, and report the implementation status to the overall management officer.
2. ② In order to prevent misconduct, compliance training will be provided to all researchers and other personnel involved in the management and operation of research funds within the department, and their participation will be monitored and supervised.
3. ③ Monitor whether researchers in each department are properly managing and executing research funds, and provide guidance for improvement as needed. Furthermore, have responsibility and authority over the management and execution of research funds.

Research Ethics Education Officer

This department has the responsibility and authority to provide research ethics education to address research misconduct or inappropriate conduct within each faculty and department, and to regularly conduct research ethics education to ensure that knowledge of research ethics is retained and updated. It also has management responsibility for the storage and disclosure of research data.

Deputy Head of Compliance Promotion

They assist the Compliance Promotion Officer and the Research Ethics Education Officer, and are responsible for the effective management and supervision of compliance education, research ethics education, and measures to prevent research misconduct implemented in each department, major, and research institute, and have the authority and responsibility for the effective management and supervision of measures to prevent misconduct in research activities.

Administrative manager

1. ① Possesses substantial responsibility and authority for the administrative management and operation of research funds. Also assists the Compliance Promotion Officer in implementing monitoring and other measures to prevent misconduct.
2. ② Concurrently serving as Deputy Head of Compliance Promotion, assisting the Head of Compliance Promotion and ensuring the effective management and supervision of compliance education and research misconduct prevention measures implemented within the administrative department.

Administrative Manager

They assist the administrative manager, are directly involved in the administrative processing of research funds, and serve as the point of contact for inquiries from within and outside the university regarding rules and regulations concerning the use of research funds. They also serve as the point of contact for reporting research misconduct.

5. Organization for preventing fraud

Research Misconduct Prevention Promotion Committee

This body is established with the aim of improving the research environment for researchers by formulating codes of conduct and plans to prevent research misconduct in order to carry out fair research activities.

Internal Audit Committee for Competitive Funding, etc.

The Internal Audit Committee for Competitive Funds, etc., is established directly under the Chief Executive Officer for the purpose of auditing the use of competitive funds, etc.

Preliminary Investigation Committee

This body is established to conduct preliminary investigations based on reports of research misconduct, etc., to determine the possibility of the reported incident occurring, the logical validity of the scientific reasoning submitted at the time of the report, the feasibility of investigating the reported content in the main investigation, and other matters deemed necessary.

Investigation Committee

Based on the report and opinions of the preliminary investigation committee, if it is deemed necessary to conduct a full investigation, this committee will be established to confirm and determine the facts regarding the existence of misconduct, the nature of the misconduct, the individuals involved and the extent of their involvement, and the amount of misuse.

6. Regulations concerning the prevention of research misconduct, etc.

7. Implementation of compliance education and research ethics education

8. Consultation and reporting channels

Consultation and reporting hotlines (PDF: 83KB)

Consultation service

This is a consultation service regarding rules and regulations concerning the use of research funds, in order to prevent misconduct in financial management.

Reporting Hotline

This is a reporting channel for research misconduct (including cases where misconduct is being attempted or where misconduct is being requested).

9. Reference materials

1. Statement "Code of Conduct for Scientists - Revised Edition" (Science Council of Japan: Revised January 2013) (PDF: 2.8MB)
2. Guidelines for the Management and Auditing of Public Research Funds in Research Institutions (Implementation Standards) (Revised February 1, 2021) (PDF: 1.4MB)
3. Guidelines on responding to research misconduct (revised August 26, 2014) (PDF)

Consultation and reporting services for research/research funding misconduct (PDF: 207KB)