Responsibility of Research Activities of Universities: Conceptual Foundations and Standards

Abstract

For the first time in domestic science, the article actualizes the topic of responsibility of research activities of universities as a complex problem. The author concludes on the growth of international, European, industry, national and institutional standards of responsibility in the situation of increased societal demands for responsibility from different actors, for different processes, in different fields, and at different levels of research activity. The article clarifies the preconditions and trends of standardization of responsible research in international and European documents. The author has identified the composition of the main subjects of research activities, namely state, national authorities, researchers, research organizations, cross-border cooperation partners, research financial institutions, stakeholders, including the private sector, civil society, as well as all other open science actors worldwide. The area of their responsibility at the system of research activities has been presented.  The author has revealed conceptual foundations of the responsibility of research activities as a tool for harmonizing the whole process of research and innovation with the values, needs, and expectations of society. The harmonization provides for establishing cooperation between all stakeholders regarding collaboration in scientific education, setting of the research agenda, ensuring access to the results and projections of new research, adherence to the values of gender and ethical responsibility. The place and leading role of the concept of responsibility of research activities as a component in the EU framework programs for research and innovation are shown. The role of universities in the increased responsibility of research activities and the formation of a culture of responsible research and innovation in society is substantiated. The tasks for increasing the responsibility of research activities of domestic universities at the present stage are outlined: development of national standards and implementation of the policy of responsibility at all levels and in all areas of research; development of the algorithm of actions for successful implementation of standards of responsibility in the system of research activities of universities; providing training and creating conditions for the implementation of relevant research in universities.