By registering for the VIRT²UE train-the-trainer program participants have the opportunity to become a certified research integrity trainer. The certificate confirms that they are didactically skilled research integrity experts. Participants receive the certificate when they have completed the online and the face-to-face courses and trained ten further researchers.

Ideally, trainees should participate in both face-to-face meetings, practice the five exercises in the interim period between the meetings, and train ten further researchers afterwards. However, this structure can be adapted if necessary. Adaptations may concern the timing of the training of ten further researchers and the second face-to-face meeting. If they feel confident about their skills, trainees can already train ten further researchers during the interim period between the face-to-face meetings, rather than only practicing the exercises. For didactical reasons we recommend to first practice the exercises before organizing a full training, yet leave the decision up to trainees.

Practical Tips

The training of ten further researchers can be completed during or after the duration of the program and needs to encompass all five exercises. Trainees can decide to either train the ten researchers to also become trainers or as regular course participants. In the former case the training needs to cover the didactical aspects of the program, whereas in the latter case this is not necessary. We encourage participants to decide for the first option to enhance research integrity teaching capacities.

1

Complete the online course - 4h

Take the online modules.

2

Complete the assignments and readings for the first face-to-face session – 5h

Read the assigned materials and complete the assignments.

3

Participate in the first face-to-face (participatory) session – 16h

Join the (face to face) group sessions.

4

Practice your training skills - 27 h

Facilitate the exercises in your own context.

5

Participate in the second face-to-face session – 8h

Ideally you join your fellow trainees and trainers for the last day of the training. However, if necessary, the second face-to-face meeting can be replaced by a writing exercise, peer coaching and/or a video conference if attending is organizationally infeasible or prohibitively costly for a trainee. Due to didactical considerations it is highly recommended that you attend the second face-to-face meeting. You need to provide compelling reasons if you would like to be exempted from this requirement.

6

Obtain the certificate

The program is based on mutual trust and does not include any tests. Trainers trust you to honour commitments and you can expect Trainers to do the same. After completing the training and after having trained 10 trainers, or researchers who have the potential to become trainers (time investment 60 h) you receive a certificate by the VIRT2UE consortium.

Remarks

This training has been developed by the VIRT2UE project, which has received funding form the European Union’s H2020 research programme under grant agreement N 741782.

Steps

1Issue training certificate

What is this about?

In order to become certified VIRT2UE trainers, trainees need to completed the online and the face-to-face courses and trained ten further researchers. The training of 10 further researchers can be completed during or after the duration of the program.

Practical Tips

Ideally, trainees should participate in both face-to-face meetings, practice the five exercises in the interim period between the meetings, and train ten further researchers afterwards. However, this structure can be adapted (if necessary) as follows:

1) Training other trainers

The training of ten further researchers can be completed during or after the duration of the program and needs to encompass all five exercises. Trainees can decide to either train the ten researchers to also become trainers or as regular course participants. In the former case the training needs to cover the didactical aspects of the program, whereas in the latter case this is not necessary.

If they feel confident about their skills, trainees can already train ten further researchers during the interim period between the face-to-face meetings, rather than only practicing the exercises. For didactical reasons it is recommend to first practice the exercises before organizing a full training, yet leave the decision up to trainees.

2) Second face to face meeting

The second face-to-face meeting can be replaced by a writing exercise, peer coaching and/or a video conference if attending is organizationally infeasible or prohibitively costly for a trainee. Trainees need to provide compelling reasons if they would like to be exempted from taking part in the second face to face meeting.

1

Issue training certificate

Ask trainees to certify the fact that they have completed the requirements and issue the certificate. The program is based on mutual trust and does not include any tests. The certificate confirms that they are didactically skilled research integrity experts.

Remarks

This training has been developed by the VIRT2UE project, which has received funding form the European Union’s H2020 research programme under grant agreement N 741782.

Other information