A study on collaborative governance of research integrity in institutions based on SFIC model—Taking the practice of research integrity construction of Chinese Academy of Sciences as an example

Abstract

Research integrity is the cornerstone of scientific and technological innovation. It is also an inevitable requirement of the scientific spirit. Academic supervision is a part of the supervision system, and collaborative governance of research integrity is an important issue in the current field of science and technology. The theory of collaborative governance is an extension of governance theory, which has expanded to public governance fields in the domestic academic context recently. And this theory could consolidate the consensus effectively with all parties and promote their enthusiasm and initiative. Whether it is in the supply and connection of regulations at the national level, or in the specific practical exploration at institutional level, a certain amount of collaborative governance experience has been accumulated. Governance on research integrity at the national level originated in the United States in 1980s. In China, the real involvement of research integrity governance from this level began in the early 21st century. After 2017, it entered an accelerated period. With the accumulation of governance experience and the deepening of understanding, the concept of collaborative governance has gradually penetrated the heart of research community. In fact, the practice of research integrity governance at domestic and abroad has shown that collaboration presents a relatively clear historical selection process, and all parties involved in are aware of the importance of collaborative governance. At present, the paradigm of governance leadership, academic consensus, institutional responsibility, and individual self-discipline has become an inevitable path for collaborative governance. This trend is becoming increasingly clear since the event of retraction by Tumor Biology pushed the research integrity governance to a topic issue. The whole society expresses more concern to apply collaborative governance theory in this area as an important direction. With this theory we could respond to public events, such as large-scale retractions of international journal, paper mill, and hot spot of public sentiment about research community on the internet. Based on this understanding, Chinese Academy of Sciences has fulfilled the responsibilities and missions assigned by the state in recent years, willing to play a leading role in China. On the other hand, it has continuously expanded the connotation of institutional responsibility, exploring and accumulating fresh practical experience at the institutional level. This paper discusses the paradigm of four elements of collaborative governance, elaborates on the necessity and feasibility of applying collaborative governance theory by analyzing typical historical events at home and abroad. With applying the SFIC model of collaborative governance to the practice, Chinese Academy of Sciences realizes that it may be an important path for modernization of the governance system and capabilities on research integrity governance. Five suggestions are mentioned. First, the institution should make more concern of paradigm on research integrity governance. Second, it should normalize the cases with combining mercy and severity. Third, it should popularize training with case study to set a benchmark. Fourth, it should cultivate the team of research integrity officers. Fifth, it should compete for an international voice to create an external environment for collaborative governance on research integrity. At the same time, this article also recognizes the long-term nature of research integrity governance. It believes that the short-term goal of promoting collaborative governance of research integrity is to achieve an integrated system of “education, motivation, regulation, supervision and punishment” at the institutional level. The mid-term goal is to inherit, protect, and maintain a good research culture and academic spirit. The long-term goal is to achieve modernization of the research integrity governance system and capabilities. The collaborative governance of domestic research integrity not only needs to address historical issues, but also meets the challenge of various new types of misconduct or potential risks in building a strong technology country and achieving high-level technological self-reliance and self-improvement. As China accelerates its pace towards becoming a technological powerhouse, it is urgent for all parties involved in the collaborative governance of research integrity in China to propose paths, concepts, benchmarks, and other issues that meet practical and development requirements, and actively maintain dialogue with the international academic community to participate global governance of research integrity.