OBUA-Toolbox for Ombudspersons at Berlin Research Institutions

This Toolbox is developed in the framework of the OBUA-Ombudswesen@BUA project and is aimed at ombudspersons for good research practice at Berlin research institutions. It is structured as a catalog of practical knowledge related to ombuds responsibilities and work, from advising to handling inquiries and cases about suspected research misconduct. The sections include general information about good research practice, role and tasks of ombudspersons, as well as attitudes and skills that can be helpful in the context of ombuds work. Since transition periods between ombudspersons often are too short to transmit knowledge about practical aspects and routines of the work, the Toolbox also includes recommendations for new ombudspersons on how to create the confidential and independent environment required for their work. Furthermore, the Toolbox lists institutional contact points and services within the Berlin University Alliance which ombudspersons within this platform can consult. In the perspective of building prospective institutional memories that preserve these and other locally-dependent aspects, the Toolbox concludes with a template for a practical notebook which active ombudspersons can use to write down their own best-practices, recommendations, and internal processes to make this knowledge available to their colleagues and successors.