Advisory Offices – Counselling in Conflict Situations

Junior researchers often face different challenges in their research period. These could lead to conflicts, for example concerning the supervision relationship, within a working group, regarding financing issues or concerning self-structured working. The challenging phase that young scientists face can also lead to personal problems. Should you find yourself in such or similar conflict situations, you can find support at various advisory offices available at KIT:

KHYS offers open consultation hours in principle every Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. in Bldg. 30.96, room 116. [▶ more]

KIT appointed special Ombudspersons for doctoral researchers and supervisors to support the solution finding for problems or conflicts which arise as part of the supervisory relationship. You can find further information and personal profiles of the Ombudspersons ▶ here.

Compliance with the rules of good research practice is indispensable for all scientists. The ▶ Ombudspersons to ensure good research practice, as persons of trust, advise those who inform them about suspected scientific misconduct by others. On the other hand, those suspected of misconduct can also contact the responsible Ombudsperson.

In addition to their advisory activities, the Ombudsmen regularly give lectures at KIT, for example during the KIT Doctoral Days. Further information can be found in the presentation ▶ How to avoid scientific malpractice (PDF file). Moreover, the ▶ Office for Good Scientific Practice and Ethical Principles at KIT (Office GWP) supports the communication and implementation of good research practice (German: "Gute wissenschaftliche Praxis", GWP) at KIT.

In addition, the ▶ German Research Ombudsman appointed by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; DFG) is available to all scientists for advice and support on questions of good research practice and its violation via scientific dishonesty.

The ▶ Guidelines for Ethical Principles of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) declare that all members of KIT are to make use the freedom of art and scholarship, research, and teaching, as described in Art. 5 par. 3 of the German Basic Law in a conscious and responsible manner.

The KIT Senate actively supports the discourse on ethics in science. To this end, it has appointed ▶ two Ombudspersons for Ethical Principle (KIT intranet) and an Ethics Committee. They are responsible for the further development of the ▶ Guidelines for Ethical Principles of KIT and for advising KIT members and associates and support them regarding sensitive issues. As a KIT member, you can contact one of the Ombudspersons with your questions at any time.

In addition, the ▶ Office for Good Scientific Practice and Ethical Principles at KIT (Office GWP) supports the Ombudspersons for Ethical Principles and the KIT Ethics Committee.

The conflict management and psychosocial counselling unit (KMB) serves as an additional contact point for all members of KIT and offers competent help in the shape of individual counselling, coaching, conflict counselling, mediation, team support and arranging further support services. The counselling services provide assistance with all problems that limit your ability  to work. These can be based on both the work context as well as your personal situation.

For all legal questions regarding the processes for the doctorate and the doctoral ordinances please contact the service unit ▶ Higher Education Law and Academic Affairs (DE HAA).

KIT offers its members further contact points. On the ▶ website of the Conflict Management and Psychosocial Counselling unit (KMB) you can find an overview. In addition, we have compiled a selection for you:

▶ Conventions of Doctoral Researchers
▶ International Scholars & Welcome Office (IScO)
▶ Equal Opportunities
▶ Dealing with Discrimination
▶ Contact Persons for Sexual Harassment
▶ Personalservice (personnel support; PSE)
▶ Personalrat (staff council)
▶ Medizinische Dienste (medical services) 
▶ Schwerbehindertenvertretung (representatives for the severely handicapped)
▶ KIT Representative for Students with Disabilities and Chronic Diseases
▶ Netzwerk Gesundheit (health network)
▶ Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe
▶ Compliance Staff Unit
▶ KIT "Kummerkasten" (suggestion box)
▶ Whistleblower Portal of KIT

You can find an overview of the contact points at KIT for conflict counselling in this ▶ flyer and on the ▶ website of the Conflict Management and Psychosocial Counselling unit (KMB).