{ "dataset": "evidence-library", "licence": "CC-BY-4.0", "methodology_version": "0.1.1", "generated_at": "2026-10-15", "note": "NR, ? and 0 are distinct values. Findings with verification \"needs_review\" are provisional.", "verification_summary": { "verified": 0, "needs_review": 24, "disputed": 0 }, "caveats": [ "All findings with verification 'needs_review' are provisional and have not been verified by a human reviewer.", "Findings may have been prepared with AI assistance; see each record's research_method.", "0 means no qualifying provision was identified in the sources reviewed; it is not proof that no safeguard exists.", "Do not aggregate results into overall scores or rankings.", "StudentSafe Europe evaluates published rules, not individuals or implementation." ], "docs": { "methodology": "https://github.com/josiptomaskovic1-ai/Academic-Safeguard-Europe/blob/main/methodology/methodology-v0.1.md", "data_model": "https://github.com/josiptomaskovic1-ai/Academic-Safeguard-Europe/blob/main/docs/data-model.md" }, "data": [ { "id": "ehea-esg-2015", "title": "Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG)", "author_body": "ENQA, ESU, EUA, EURASHE, in cooperation with Education International, BUSINESSEUROPE and EQAR", "year": 2015, "jurisdiction": "EHEA", "categories": [ "quality-assurance", "student-rights", "complaint-procedures", "institutional-accountability" ], "source_type": "standard", "url": "https://www.enqa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/ESG_2015.pdf", "doi": null, "summary": "The shared European framework for internal and external quality assurance in higher education, adopted by EHEA ministers in 2015. Its standard on student-centred learning, teaching and assessment expects mutual respect in the learner-teacher relationship, procedures for student complaints and a formal procedure for student appeals, making it a baseline reference for institutional safeguards.", "notes": "Adoption context and issuing bodies confirmed on the ENQA ESG page: https://www.enqa.eu/esg-standards-and-guidelines-for-quality-assurance-in-the-european-higher-education-area/" }, { "id": "eu-charter-fundamental-rights", "title": "Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union", "author_body": "European Parliament, Council of the European Union and European Commission", "year": 2012, "jurisdiction": "EU", "categories": [ "student-rights", "academic-freedom", "institutional-accountability" ], "source_type": "legislation", "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:12012P/TXT", "doi": null, "summary": "The EU's binding catalogue of fundamental rights. Provisions on the right to education (Art. 14), non-discrimination (Art. 21), equality between women and men (Art. 23) and good administration (Art. 41) provide rights-based context for evaluating fair treatment of students; the Charter binds Member States only when implementing EU law.", "notes": "Year refers to the 2012 Official Journal consolidated version (OJ C 326) opened on EUR-Lex; the Charter was first proclaimed in 2000. Art. 41 formally applies to EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, so it is contextual rather than directly applicable to universities." }, { "id": "eu-directive-2019-1937-whistleblowers", "title": "Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law", "author_body": "European Parliament and Council of the European Union", "year": 2019, "jurisdiction": "EU", "categories": [ "retaliation", "institutional-accountability", "complaint-procedures" ], "source_type": "legislation", "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/1937/oj", "doi": null, "summary": "The EU Whistleblower Directive, requiring internal and external reporting channels and protection against retaliation for persons reporting breaches of specified areas of Union law. It is a useful model for anti-retaliation safeguards, but its protection is tied to work-related contexts.", "notes": "Scope limit: personal scope covers workers, self-employed persons, shareholders and management, volunteers and paid or unpaid trainees, among others; students as such are not covered unless they report in a work-related capacity (e.g. doctoral candidates employed as researchers). Material scope is limited to breaches of listed areas of Union law." }, { "id": "eu-directive-2024-1385-violence-against-women", "title": "Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence", "author_body": "European Parliament and Council of the European Union", "year": 2024, "jurisdiction": "EU", "categories": [ "harassment", "remediation" ], "source_type": "legislation", "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1385/oj", "doi": null, "summary": "The first EU-wide directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, setting minimum rules on criminal offences, victim protection, support and prevention. Its recitals and provisions on sexual harassment at work and victim support provide context for institutional harassment responses.", "notes": "Harassment provisions focus on the employment context; application to student-staff relationships in higher education depends on national transposition. Published in the Official Journal on 24 May 2024." }, { "id": "coe-istanbul-convention-2011", "title": "Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence", "author_body": "Council of Europe", "year": 2011, "jurisdiction": "Council of Europe", "categories": [ "harassment", "remediation" ], "source_type": "legislation", "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:22023A0602(01)", "doi": null, "summary": "The Istanbul Convention, opened for signature in Istanbul on 11 May 2011, is a binding treaty on preventing violence against women, protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators. Article 40 requires Parties to subject sexual harassment to criminal or other legal sanction, a relevant reference for harassment safeguards in education settings.", "notes": "Treaty text opened via its EUR-Lex publication (EU accession, OJ 2023). Official Council of Europe pages (rm.coe.int, coe.int) returned HTTP 403 to automated access and could not be opened directly. Ratification status varies by state." }, { "id": "coe-cm-rec-2012-7-academic-freedom", "title": "Recommendation CM/Rec(2012)7 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the responsibility of public authorities for academic freedom and institutional autonomy", "author_body": "Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers", "year": 2012, "jurisdiction": "Council of Europe", "categories": [ "academic-freedom", "institutional-accountability" ], "source_type": "policy", "url": "https://bolognaby.org/images/Library/Recommendation_CM_Rec20127.pdf", "doi": null, "summary": "A Committee of Ministers recommendation, adopted on 20 June 2012, setting out the responsibility of public authorities to protect academic freedom and institutional autonomy. It treats academic freedom of staff and students as intrinsic to higher education and provides a normative frame for protection against undue interference.", "notes": "Opened via a third-party mirror (bolognaby.org) because Council of Europe servers (coe.int, rm.coe.int) blocked automated access with HTTP 403. Replace URL with the official Council of Europe link after manual verification." }, { "id": "ehea-rome-communique-2020", "title": "Rome Ministerial Communiqué", "author_body": "EHEA Ministers responsible for higher education", "year": 2020, "jurisdiction": "EHEA", "categories": [ "academic-freedom", "student-rights", "institutional-accountability" ], "source_type": "policy", "url": "https://ehea.info/Upload/Rome_Ministerial_Communique.pdf", "doi": null, "summary": "Communiqué adopted by EHEA ministers at their online conference of 19 November 2020. It commits to institutional autonomy, academic freedom and integrity and student and staff participation in governance, and adopts a definition of academic freedom for staff and students that includes freedom from fear of reprisal, set out in Annex I (Statement on Academic Freedom).", "notes": "Annexes: I Statement on Academic Freedom; II Principles and Guidelines to Strengthen the Social Dimension of Higher Education in the EHEA; III Recommendations to National Authorities for the Enhancement of Higher Education Learning and Teaching. Conference page: https://ehea.info/page-ministerial-conference-rome-2020" }, { "id": "ehea-tirana-fundamental-values-2024", "title": "Annex 1 to the Tirana Communiqué: EHEA Statements on Fundamental Values", "author_body": "EHEA Ministerial Conference, Tirana", "year": 2024, "jurisdiction": "EHEA", "categories": [ "academic-freedom", "institutional-accountability", "student-rights" ], "source_type": "policy", "url": "https://www.eqar.eu/assets/uploads/2024/06/ANNEX-1-EHEA-STATEMENTS-ON-FUNDAMENTAL-VALUES.pdf", "doi": null, "summary": "Annex adopted at the EHEA Ministerial Conference of 29-30 May 2024 containing statements on fundamental values of the EHEA, complementing the 2020 statement on academic freedom. It includes a statement on student and staff participation in governance without pressure or undue interference, relevant to accountability and voice safeguards.", "notes": "PDF opened on the EQAR website; the EHEA official listing (https://ehea.info/ministerial-conferences-and-communiques/) lists 'Tirana Ministerial Communiqué - Annex I - Statements on Fundamental Values'. Exact list of individual statements not recorded here; verify before citing specific statements." }, { "id": "eu-council-rec-2023-research-talents", "title": "Council Recommendation of 18 December 2023 on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe", "author_body": "Council of the European Union", "year": 2023, "jurisdiction": "EU", "categories": [ "doctoral-supervision", "harassment", "academic-freedom", "professional-boundaries" ], "source_type": "policy", "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2023/1640/oj", "doi": null, "summary": "Council Recommendation that annexes the revised European Charter for Researchers, replacing the 2005 Charter and Code for Researchers. The Charter addresses rights and responsibilities of researchers and employers, including responsibilities in supervisory roles and prompt responses to discrimination, sexual or moral harassment and unjustified appropriation of data or results.", "notes": "Published as OJ C/2023/1640 (CELEX 32023H01640). The European Charter for Researchers is also presented on EURAXESS: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/european-charter. Applies to researchers, including doctoral candidates, rather than students generally." }, { "id": "intl-allea-ecoc-2023", "title": "The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity – Revised Edition 2023", "author_body": "ALLEA – All European Academies", "year": 2023, "jurisdiction": "International", "categories": [ "doctoral-supervision", "conflicts-of-interest", "retaliation", "institutional-accountability" ], "source_type": "code_of_conduct", "url": "https://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/European-Code-of-Conduct-Revised-Edition-2023.pdf", "doi": "10.26356/ECOC", "summary": "A self-regulatory framework for research integrity across European disciplines and research settings. It covers training, supervision and mentoring responsibilities, handling of conflicts of interest, and protection of bona fide whistleblowers during integrity investigations, relevant to doctoral researchers.", "notes": "DOI as given in the document's own citation line. Landing page: https://allea.org/code-of-conduct/" }, { "id": "eu-bonn-declaration-2020", "title": "Bonn Declaration on Freedom of Scientific Research", "author_body": "Ministerial Conference on the European Research Area", "year": 2020, "jurisdiction": "EU", "categories": [ "academic-freedom", "institutional-accountability" ], "source_type": "policy", "url": "https://www.bmftr.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/EN/b/bonn_declaration_en.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=5", "doi": null, "summary": "Declaration adopted at the Ministerial Conference on the European Research Area in Bonn on 20 October 2020, setting out a shared definition of freedom of scientific research and the roles of governments and research organisations in protecting it. Relevant as a European reference on protecting researchers from undue interference.", "notes": "PDF hosted by the German federal research ministry (host of the 2020 Council Presidency conference). Focus is research freedom rather than student protection." }, { "id": "eu-horizon-europe-gep-guidance-2021", "title": "Horizon Europe Guidance on Gender Equality Plans", "author_body": "European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation", "year": 2021, "jurisdiction": "EU", "categories": [ "harassment", "institutional-accountability", "remediation" ], "source_type": "guidance", "url": "https://erc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/document/file/GEPs_in_HE_guidelines.pdf", "doi": "10.2777/876509", "summary": "Commission guidance on the Gender Equality Plan eligibility criterion for public bodies, higher education institutions and research organisations applying to Horizon Europe. It recommends measures against gender-based violence including sexual harassment as a thematic area, linking research funding to institutional safeguards.", "notes": "Summary of the eligibility criterion also available from EIGE: https://eige.europa.eu/gender-mainstreaming/toolkits/gear/horizon-europe-gep-criterion" }, { "id": "eu-unisafe-survey-2022", "title": "Gender-based violence and its consequences in European Academia: First results from the UniSAFE survey", "author_body": "UniSAFE project (Lipinsky, A.; Schredl, C.; Baumann, H.; Humbert, A.; Tanwar, J.)", "year": 2022, "jurisdiction": "EU", "categories": [ "harassment", "bullying", "academic-harm", "complaint-procedures" ], "source_type": "report", "url": "https://unisafe-gbv.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/UniSAFE-survey_prevalence-results_2022.pdf", "doi": null, "summary": "Report of the UniSAFE survey of staff and students at 46 European universities and research organisations, funded under Horizon 2020. It presents prevalence of forms of gender-based violence, including psychological violence and sexual harassment, and highlights low rates of reporting, relevant to the design of complaint and support systems.", "notes": "Dated 7 November 2022; the report's recommended citation calls it 'Summary results from the UniSAFE survey'. Grant agreement no. 101006261; survey questionnaire on Zenodo (record 7220636) per the report." }, { "id": "eu-unisafe-toolkit", "title": "UniSAFE Toolkit", "author_body": "UniSAFE project consortium (coordinated by the European Science Foundation)", "year": null, "jurisdiction": "EU", "categories": [ "harassment", "institutional-accountability", "remediation", "complaint-procedures" ], "source_type": "guidance", "url": "https://unisafe-toolkit.eu/", "doi": null, "summary": "An online operational toolkit designed to help higher education and research organisations address gender-based violence, structured around the project's 7P framework (prevalence, prevention, protection, prosecution, provision, partnerships, policy). Offers practical institutional guidance derived from EU-funded research.", "notes": "Publication year not stated on the page opened; project ran to January 2024 per the UniSAFE website (https://unisafe-gbv.eu/). CORDIS project record: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101006261" }, { "id": "intl-enohe-network", "title": "ENOHE – European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education", "author_body": "European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education (ENOHE)", "year": null, "jurisdiction": "International", "categories": [ "ombuds-systems", "complaint-procedures", "student-rights" ], "source_type": "network", "url": "https://enohe.net/", "doi": null, "summary": "A European professional network for ombuds working in higher education, focused on protecting and safeguarding rights within higher education. It publishes Occasional Papers, yearbooks and conference materials that document ombuds practice as an independent institutional safeguard.", "notes": "Formerly the European Network of Ombudsmen in Higher Education; ENOHE Occasional Paper 12 states it was founded in 2003." }, { "id": "intl-enohe-op12-phd-students-2019", "title": "PhD Students and Ombuds: How Ombuds Contribute to Civil, Fair and Productive PhD Trajectories", "author_body": "Herfs, P.; Brown, J.; Farrell, N.; Meiser, U. (ENOHE Occasional Paper Nr. 12)", "year": 2019, "jurisdiction": "International", "categories": [ "doctoral-supervision", "ombuds-systems", "complaint-procedures", "academic-authority" ], "source_type": "report", "url": "https://enohe.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/occasional_paper_12.pdf", "doi": null, "summary": "ENOHE occasional paper, first edition April 2019, examining how higher education ombuds support doctoral candidates and help resolve difficulties arising during PhD trajectories. Directly relevant to informal and independent routes for addressing supervision-related conflicts.", "notes": "Based on contributions linked to the ENOHE 2018 annual conference in Edinburgh, per the paper." }, { "id": "intl-enohe-op11-2017", "title": "ENOHE Occasional Paper Nr. 11", "author_body": "Leidenfrost, J.; Rothwangl, A.-K.; Herfs, P. (European Network of Ombudsmen in Higher Education)", "year": 2017, "jurisdiction": "International", "categories": [ "ombuds-systems", "student-rights", "complaint-procedures" ], "source_type": "report", "url": "https://enohe.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/occasional_paper_11.pdf", "doi": null, "summary": "ENOHE occasional paper (first edition June 2017) containing two contributions: one on the Austrian Student Ombudsman and student rights and obligations in Austrian higher education, and one on ombuds practice at Canadian universities from a Dutch ombudsman's perspective. Useful comparative material on ombuds models.", "notes": "The paper has no single overall title; the title field uses the series designation. Contributions: 'The Austrian Student Ombudsman, \"student rights\" and \"student obligations\" in the Austrian Higher Education Area' (Leidenfrost/Rothwangl) and 'Ombudsing at Canadian universities through the eyes of a Dutch ombudsman' (Herfs). Editor: Josef Leidenfrost." }, { "id": "intl-enohe-being-ombudsman-2017", "title": "Being an Ombudsman in Higher Education: A Comparative Study", "author_body": "Behrens, R. (study for the European Network of Ombudsmen in Higher Education)", "year": 2017, "jurisdiction": "International", "categories": [ "ombuds-systems", "complaint-procedures", "institutional-accountability" ], "source_type": "research", "url": "https://enohe.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Being-an-ombudsman.pdf", "doi": null, "summary": "A comparative study, dated June 2017, prepared for ENOHE on the roles and practices of ombuds in higher education across jurisdictions. Relevant for assessing whether ombuds offices are independent, accessible and effective safeguards.", "notes": null }, { "id": "ehea-esu-student-rights-charter-2024", "title": "Student Rights Charter", "author_body": "European Students' Union (ESU)", "year": 2024, "jurisdiction": "EHEA", "categories": [ "student-rights", "academic-freedom", "complaint-procedures", "ombuds-systems" ], "source_type": "policy", "url": "https://esu-online.org/policies/student-rights-charter-2/", "doi": null, "summary": "ESU's policy charter setting out rights students across Europe should enjoy, including freedom from discrimination, academic freedom and integrity, a fair appeal to an independent body against discriminatory acts, and access to independent advice through student ombuds or similar solutions. A student-led benchmark for institutional safeguards.", "notes": "Page dated 07.06.2024; secondary search results indicate adoption in May 2024 (not confirmed on the page). It updates ESU's 2008 Students' Rights Charter: https://esu-online.org/policies/students-rights-charter/. Policy position, not legally binding." }, { "id": "ehea-eua-salzburg-ii-2010", "title": "Salzburg II Recommendations: European universities' achievements since 2005 in implementing the Salzburg Principles", "author_body": "European University Association (EUA)", "year": 2010, "jurisdiction": "EHEA", "categories": [ "doctoral-supervision", "quality-assurance", "institutional-accountability" ], "source_type": "policy", "url": "https://www.eua.eu/downloads/publications/salzburg%20ii%20recommendations%202010.pdf", "doi": null, "summary": "EUA recommendations for continued reform of doctoral education building on the 2005 Salzburg Principles, emphasising transparent admission, high-quality supervision, quality assurance and accountability, and the independence of doctoral candidates. A core European reference for structured doctoral supervision.", "notes": "Approved by the EUA Council in October 2010 according to secondary sources; the 2005 Salzburg Principles themselves were not separately opened." }, { "id": "ehea-eua-cde-taking-salzburg-forward-2016", "title": "Doctoral Education – Taking Salzburg Forward: Implementation and New Challenges", "author_body": "European University Association, Council for Doctoral Education (EUA-CDE)", "year": 2016, "jurisdiction": "EHEA", "categories": [ "doctoral-supervision", "ombuds-systems", "institutional-accountability" ], "source_type": "policy", "url": "https://ehea.info/Upload/document/consultive/eua/Doctoral_Education_Taking_Salzburg_Forward_638220.pdf", "doi": null, "summary": "EUA-CDE follow-up to the Salzburg Principles and Salzburg II reviewing implementation of doctoral education reforms and new challenges such as ethics, digitalisation and globalisation. It refers to institutional measures on research integrity and ethics, including appointing an ombudsperson, relevant to doctoral safeguards.", "notes": "Opened as a PDF on the EHEA website (consultative member documents)." }, { "id": "ehea-eua-cde-doctoral-survey-2025", "title": "Doctoral education in Europe today: enhanced structures and practices for the European knowledge society (2025 Survey – Report I)", "author_body": "EUA Council for Doctoral Education (authors: Marti, S.; Peneoasu, A.-M.)", "year": 2025, "jurisdiction": "EHEA", "categories": [ "doctoral-supervision", "complaint-procedures", "quality-assurance", "conflicts-of-interest" ], "source_type": "report", "url": "https://eua-cde.org/downloads/publications/cde%20doctoral%20education%20survey_part%201_web.pdf", "doi": null, "summary": "EUA-CDE survey report (June 2025) on structures and practices in European doctoral education, including the status of doctoral candidates and supervision practices. It reports on institutional rules for written supervision agreements, handling of supervisor-candidate conflicts, supervisor training and complaint roles of doctoral schools.", "notes": "Quantitative findings are institution-reported survey data; check figures in the report before citing." }, { "id": "gb-oia-good-practice-framework-2022", "title": "Good Practice Framework: Handling complaints and academic appeals", "author_body": "Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA)", "year": 2022, "jurisdiction": "GB", "categories": [ "complaint-procedures", "student-rights", "remediation", "ombuds-systems" ], "source_type": "guidance", "url": "https://www.oiahe.org.uk/resources-and-publications/good-practice-framework/handling-complaints-and-academic-appeals/", "doi": null, "summary": "Third edition (December 2022) of the independent student complaints scheme's guidance for providers in England and Wales on handling complaints and academic appeals. It covers early resolution, timeframes, complaints about the behaviour of staff or other students, and learning from complaints, offering a mature national benchmark for procedural fairness.", "notes": "Applies to providers in England and Wales that are members of the OIA scheme; ISO code GB used for the United Kingdom." }, { "id": "intl-levecque-2017-phd-mental-health", "title": "Work organization and mental health problems in PhD students", "author_body": "Levecque, K.; Anseel, F.; De Beuckelaer, A.; Van der Heyden, J.; Gisle, L.", "year": 2017, "jurisdiction": "BE", "categories": [ "doctoral-supervision", "academic-harm", "academic-authority" ], "source_type": "research", "url": "https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/work-organization-and-mental-health-problems-in-phd-students/", "doi": "10.1016/j.respol.2017.02.008", "summary": "Peer-reviewed study in Research Policy (vol. 46, no. 4) of a representative sample of PhD students in Flanders, Belgium, comparing their mental health with other highly educated groups. It links organisational factors, including the supervisor's leadership style, to mental health problems, supporting attention to supervision practices as a source of harm.", "notes": "Record opened on King's College London research portal; publisher page (ScienceDirect) blocked automated access. doi.org resolved to the ScienceDirect article. Addresses mental health and work organisation, not abuse of authority specifically." }, { "id": "intl-nature-phd-survey-2019", "title": "PhDs: the tortuous truth", "author_body": "Woolston, C. (Nature)", "year": 2019, "jurisdiction": "International", "categories": [ "doctoral-supervision", "academic-harm", "bullying", "harassment" ], "source_type": "report", "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03459-7", "doi": "10.1038/d41586-019-03459-7", "summary": "Nature career feature (13 November 2019) reporting on Nature's global survey of more than 6,000 graduate students about the experience of doctoral research. Secondary journalistic report of a non-probability survey, useful as international context.", "notes": "Secondary report, not peer-reviewed research. DOI taken from the article page metadata. Specific findings on bullying and harassment were not verified from the page text retrieved (body partially unavailable); verify before citing figures." }, { "id": "intl-nowrouzi-kia-2024-gbv-academic-settings", "title": "Examining the Prevalence and Effects of Gender-based Violence in Academic Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses", "author_body": "Nowrouzi-Kia, B. et al.", "year": 2024, "jurisdiction": "International", "categories": [ "harassment", "bullying", "academic-harm" ], "source_type": "research", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12397552/", "doi": "10.1177/15248380241289436", "summary": "Peer-reviewed systematic review and meta-analyses published in Trauma, Violence, & Abuse on the prevalence and effects of gender-based violence, including sexual harassment and workplace bullying, in academic settings, based on studies published between 2013 and 2023. Provides an evidence synthesis on harm in academia.", "notes": "Published online 23 October 2024; issue citation Trauma Violence Abuse 26(4):755-768 (2025). Focus includes university staff; not Europe-specific." } ] }