Newsletter
In July 2023, the MCAA launched the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel. Through this channel, MCAA members can report on ethical issues within and outside the association. We interviewed Fernanda Bajanca and Gian Maria Greco, who lead the project.
A few months ago, the MCAA launched two valuable and long-awaited initiatives for its fellows, the Whistleblowing Channel and the Mentoring Initiative. In this interview we wanted to know a little bit more about the ideas behind the whistleblower channel from the leaders of the project, Gian Maria Greco who is an MCAA board member and Fernanda Bajanca, the current chair of the MCAA.
What is the new whistleblowing initiative and why was it created?
Communities everywhere can suffer from misconduct, and the fear of backlash can silence those who see it. The MCAA stands firm against any unethical practices or violations, ensuring an atmosphere where its members can voice concerns without facing consequences.
Recognizing the potential dangers of reporting such issues, our main objective is to maintain transparency, responsibility, and integrity in our community by protecting the welfare and rights of those who step forward. Thus, the MCAA introduced the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel. This offers members a protected and private avenue to share firsthand experiences or observations of unethical actions.
Highlighting wrongdoings is vital to uphold transparency and accountability within the MCAA. By coming forward, one bolsters the association's credibility and aids in addressing any breaches of the MCAA Code of Conduct. For an in-depth overview, please refer to the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel Policy document.
How can one report an incident? What type of events can be reported? How will they be processed?
While the MCAA's ability to address unethical issues outside its purview is limited, the Association is dedicated to offering its members a secure environment for reporting unethical matters they witness or experience with third parties like universities, research centres, funding bodies, private firms, and so on. Accordingly, the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel allows members to report concerns in two main contexts: A) issues directly linked to the MCAA, and B) those connected to third parties. It's crucial to recognize that:
1. The MCAA can only act on concerns that fall within its domain, i.e., context A.
2. Regarding third-party related issues or context B, while the MCAA is committed to fostering dialogue about one’s report with relevant stakeholders, it won't undertake an investigation. This is because the Association lacks both jurisdiction and legal authority. Additionally, it's legally required for one to use the communication channels of the concerned third party before turning to an external platform like the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel.
Currently, while we test the tool under a pilot phase, only MCAA members can access the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel. Members can submit their reports using the form accessible at the MCAA website. Once a report is submitted, members can track its status and any related developments via a separate form, found on the same page.
Are there any ethical or privacy concerns?
Ethics and privacy were major concerns taken into account during the design of the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel. Upon accessing the platform, members will be walked through the steps to file a report. Should they wish to remain anonymous, there is an option to select that preference. The system is structured to prioritise the safeguarding of their identity. Rest assured, their personal details will be kept confidential and only the MCAA Ethics Committee, an independent and unbiased body of the Association, will have access to it. No board members or MCAA staff has access to the complaints.
How will the initiative be coordinated?
While it was designed under the supervision of two MCAA Board members (Editor’s Note: Fernanda Bajanca and Gian Maria Greco) with support from the MCAA Ethics Committee and an external partner company specialised on the matter, the MCAA Whistleblowing Channel will be managed by the MCAA Ethics Committee.
Once a member has submitted a report, it will be reviewed by the MCAA Ethics Committee to determine if an investigation is warranted. Within a 90-day timeframe, the Ethics Committee will present its findings and conclusions to the MCAA Board, duly anonymised. This report may include recommended corrective actions to be eventually implemented by the Board. Serious breaches of the MCAA Code of Conduct may require the intervention of the MCAA General Assembly as per the MCAA statutes.
What do you expect from this initiative? Where do you see/hope it goes in the next 2-3 years?
First and foremost, our aim is to bolster our association's growth and reinforce a culture of transparency and trust among our members. Additionally, we aspire to set a benchmark for organisations like ours and research institutions. In the long term, our vision for this initiative is to significantly influence the creation of a dedicated whistleblowing channel within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Initiatives do exist within the European Commission, such as an Ombudsman, and mechanisms are offered for MSCA fellows to report ethical issues. However, fellows still feel these are difficult to navigate and not fully adequate to their needs. We hope to collect information about what is failing and how to improve the official reporting mechanisms to provide recommendations from the community to the MSCA.
Oleksandra (Sasha) Ivashchenko
Editor-in-chief of the MCAA Newsletter
newsletter.editor@mariecuriealumni.eu
@OleksandraIvas3
