MCAA whistleblowing channel

Reporting misconduct is crucial in promoting transparency and accountability within the MCAA. By stepping forward, you contribute to our Association's overall well-being and reputation and help us take action to address any violations of the MCAA Code of Conduct.
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Per the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel Policy, we are limited in what we can do regarding unethical issues outside our scope of activity. However, we want to provide you with a secure and safe space if you observe or experience unethical issues related to third parties (such as universities, research centres, funding bodies, or private companies). 
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Through the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel, you can thus report issues related to two types of macro-contexts: 
A. Issues that took place within or are directly related to the MCAA
B. Issues that took place within the scope of or are directly related to third parties. 
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However, it is important to understand that:
1. The MCAA can take action only about issues related to the MCAA itself, i.e. macro-context A. 
2. Regarding issues related to third parties, i.e. macro context B, the MCAA will do its best to promote the discussion about your report with stakeholders, but cannot investigate the case since the Association doesn’t have jurisdiction or legal power over it. Moreover, by law, you should attempt to use third parties’ communication channels before communicating issues in an external channel such as the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel.

The MCAA Whistleblowing Channel reporting form will guide you through the process of reporting any unethical situation, ensuring that your concerns and experiences are addressed with utmost confidentiality, sensitivity, and impartiality. 
For the time being, access to the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel is restricted to MCAA members only. Members can access the reporting form below. 
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​After you have submitted a report through the online form, you can monitor and enquire about its status and related actions through a separate request form, which is available on the same restricted page.

If you observe or encounter malpractice, misconduct, or breaches of ethical standards within the MCAA, we highly encourage you to take action, as your involvement can expose acts of wrongdoing that would otherwise go unnoticed. As a member of the MCAA, you have the right to expose those who abuse their power, engage in academic malpractice, or violate the policies and regulations of the MCAA Code of Conduct. By reporting such incidents, you can start necessary processes that lead to investigations, disciplinary actions, and required reforms, ultimately strengthening the culture of fairness and transparency within the MCAA.

Yes. Once you access the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel, you will be guided through the reporting process, and you can select to remain anonymous.

Yes. The reporting process is designed to protect your identity. Your personal information will remain confidential throughout the process and be accessed only by the MCAA Ethics Committee, an independent and impartial body of the Association.

Upon submitting a report, the MCAA Ethics Committee will analyse it and decide whether to begin an investigation. Within 90 days of receiving the report, the Ethics Committee will develop a report with a conclusion regarding each analysis that will be provided to the MCAA Board. The Committee can suggest corrective measures in this report, and the Board will decide whether to apply them.

You can access the Report Status Channel to retrieve or add more information to your report. When submitting your report via the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel, you will be asked to create a password. This password is necessary to retrieve information regarding the status of your report later on. If you lose your password, the MCAA Ethics Committee cannot provide information regarding your report. This applies even if you identify yourself and provide contacts in the Report Status Channel form that match your personal contacts.

We aim to empower our members' well-being. Studies have shown that individuals who report issues through a whistleblowing channel may experience anxiety and other clinical symptoms related to their mental health.
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​To address this issue, we have partnered with online mental health service provider RUMO to offer mental health support by certified professionals to all members who experience psychological symptoms. All sessions are conducted by RUMO's team only; no information will ever be shared with the MCAA. The first appointment with RUMO is free and easy to schedule. Moreover, MCAA members will benefit from a 10% discount for subsequent appointments included in any subscription option by applying the voucher "MCAA" before billing.
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​RUMO has promoted well-being and mental health literacy since 2017, offering diverse services such as appointments for psychology, psychiatry, and psychological coaching. With over 40 certified professionals with a wide range of specialities and nationalities, RUMO currently serves clients in more than 25 countries. All professionals comply with the highest ethical standards set by international entities such as the Portuguese Body of Psychologists, the British Psychological Society, the American Psychological Association, and the International Society for Mental Health Online, and all procedures are regulated by the Portuguese Health Regulatory Entity (under license no. E146359). RUMO has been recognised multiple times nationally and internationally (e.g. Good Practices Award by the Portuguese Body of Psychologists). The team has been working on topics related to whistleblowing in academia, presenting papers at several academic events.

Following the most prevalent regulations, it is mandatory to initially explore communication channels offered by third parties before raising any concerns through an external platform like the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel. To assist members in understanding what to do if problems arise during their Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) fellowship, the MCAA has sought guidance from the European Commission regarding the mechanisms available to aid MSCA fellows: 
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​The MSCA promotes effective supervision. It is evident that good supervision contributes to creating a supportive environment for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and staff to conduct their work and is highly important for their career advancement. Effective supervision includes providing support and guidance, monitoring and assessing progress, counselling on career development, raising awareness on well-being, providing regular feedback, and ensuring clear and open communication. If you feel that there is insufficient expertise or commitment to guide and support you in your research, you should not hesitate to voice these concerns clearly and in time to your employer (for example, to your supervisor), or project coordinator.
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If these measures cannot resolve the issue, you should contact the organisation coordinating the project, if this is different from your employer. Only in the exceptional cases where problems remain after this dialogue should you inform the relevant Project Officer at the European Research Executive Agency (REA). The coordinator of your project will have this person's contact details. Please raise the matter with your employer or project coordinator (if applicable) before contacting REA. 
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​If you need further clarification regarding any of the aspects of your fellowship, you could contact either your supervisor or another representative of your employer, or an MSCA National Contact Point (NCP). NCPs are national structures that can provide personalised support in local languages. Many of them have specialised contact points that deal with the MSCA. NCPs in different countries regularly get in touch with each other, so you will be directed to the most appropriate source of advice. 
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​Please refer to the relevant information packages for MSCA fellows to find more information on these issues and the complaints procedure:
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​General Information package for Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellows
Information note for Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellows in a Co-funding of regional, national and international programme (COFUND) project
Information note for Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellows in Doctoral Networks
Information note for Marie Skłodowska-Curie staff members in Staff Exchanges projects