Ethics and professional conduct

This implies awareness on the part of researchers, compliance with professional standards enshrined in codes of ethics, and respect for the fundamental ethical principles flowing from the Human Rights.

As early as the second half of the 20th century, ethics committees for experimental research on human beings were set up on the basis of ethical evaluation criteria recognised within the international scientific community. The need to develop similar criteria for research not directly related to the medical sciences has arisen more recently and has become an imperative for the research community, in the same spirit of protecting the dignity of those called upon to participate in such research.

International research has highlighted the need to set up ad hoc ethics committees within universities. It is against this backdrop that the University of Lausanne has set up a University Research Ethics Committee. It operates in accordance with the principles of ethics and deontology set out in the directives issued by the University management, and acts as a complement to the Cantonal Research Ethics Committee (CER-VD).

To find out more

The ethical evaluation system proposed by the University of Lausanne consists of a network of interdisciplinary faculty committees and the central university committee (CER-UNIL).

Any researcher or student who needs to obtain a certificate of ethical compliance for a research project that does not fall within the scope of the Federal Law on Research Involving Human Subjects (LRH) can submit an application electronically via the central submission platform.

Applications are processed in a decentralised manner by the heads of the faculties, who designate (in conjunction with the central coordinator) the relevant committee for evaluation - either at faculty level or at central level. However, university regulations stipulate that the evaluation of work carried out under the supervision of a lecturer (Bachelors) or a dissertation director (Masters) or thesis director (Doctorate) is the exclusive responsibility of the faculty committees. If the project clearly appears to fall within the scope of the LRH - or if there is any doubt - applicants may be referred to the Cantonal Commission on Ethics in Human Research (CER-VD, see below). For help in determining which committee is responsible, please refer to this section.  

Each committee (central or faculty) has its own specific regulations that define the procedures for assessing the projects submitted. Once the committee has been appointed, it will carry out the evaluation.

Please note: The ethical compliance assessment process for research projects is entirely voluntary. The University of Lausanne in no way requires its researchers to systematically submit their projects for evaluation.