Diversity and inclusion

Research institutions can help foster research integrity and responsible research practices by providing researchers with healthy environments in which to work. Ensuring that researchers work in an environment that is collaborative, positive, inclusive, and enriching is a starting point to enable responsible research practices and research integrity. This guideline offers recommendations that can help research institutions foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. Upholding a diverse and inclusive environment is key to allowing researchers, research staff, and research students to feel safe and to feel part of their research community. The recommendations target several aspects of diversity and inclusion, including the importance of broadly defining diversity, the need to implement policies for diversity and inclusion, the importance of raising awareness, and the need to collect data and measure success of diversity and inclusion policies. The guideline provides information relevant for research officers, trainers, managers, and coordinators, as well as deans, rectors and other institutional leaders. Given the broad diversity that exists among research institutions, it is possible that some recommendations are not applicable in all research settings. For this reason, the guideline should not be seen as a ‘one-size-fits-all’, but rather as a tool that can be used flexibly and adapted to meet institutions’ specific needs.