Ethical Advisory Board in South East Sweden
The Ethical Advisory Board in South East Sweden was formed in 2005 and comprises representatives from Linnaeus University, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Region Kalmar county, Region Blekinge and Region Kronoberg. The chairmanship is shared between the two higher education institutions and is currently held by Linnaeus University.
Advice and ethical assessment of projects
If you are a student on a Bachelor’s programme, Master’s (60 credits) programme, or Master’s (120) programme, a clinic with R&D projects, a supervisor for essays or projects, a doctoral student or a researcher, and you have questions about the ethical aspects of your research work, you are welcome to contact the Ethical Advisory Board in South East Sweden.
We assist with ethical review and advisory opinions only to projects planned to be carried out in Sweden and therefore governed by Sweish legislation. We can assist with an advisory ethical opinion of the project regarding resources, the relationship and information pertaining to research participants, and the collection, processing, publication and archiving of data. We do not provide any ethical approval because we do not conduct an ethical review, instead we provide an advisory opinion as support in designing the project. It is the supervisor/responsible researcher who decides whether the project can be implemented, and this is also the person responsible for ensuring that the ethical rules of research are followed. In student projects, it is the supervisor who, by signing, confirms that the ethical aspects of the project have been taken into consideration.
In order to process your application, we require information regarding the project title, the name of the applicant/supervisor and the location for the project’s implementation. It is important that we receive a clear account of the ethical issues that you yourself identify in the project, as well as the measures you can take to minimize any potential ethical concerns that may arise. We also need to know about the project’s scientific background, purpose and any issues, how data is to be collected and managed, how selection is justified and the procedure. It is important that you carefully revise the application and attach the required appendices according to the instructions in the application form (however, do not include full project plans).
As a student you should submit an application for personal data processing when you collect personal data for your study/thesis. The application should be submitted to your college/university. You can find a link to the form at Blekinge Institute of Technology or Linnaeus University.
The Ethical Advisory Board does not provide advisory opinions on studies that has already started.
Advisory opinions are given in Swedish.
Please see our FAQ for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions
Mission of the Ethical Advisory Board in South East Sweden
The Act concerning Ethical Review of Research Involving Humans (2003:460) contains provisions on the ethical review of research relating to humans and biological material from humans, with the aim of protecting the individual and the respect for human worth in research. If a research or student project does not fall under this act but relates to humans, or entails work done within the framework of higher education at a first- or second-cycle level, ethical advice can be provided by the Ethical Advisory Board in South East Sweden. For example, advice can be helpful in formulating an information letter for participants in studies, in reviewing surveys so that the questions are not perceived as offensive, and in creating insight into how collected data should be stored.
The mission of the Board is to:
- Conduct an advisory ethical evaluation of student work
- Conduct an advisory ethical evaluation of research projects but not determining whether the research should be reviewed by The Swedish Ethical Review Authority (EPM) or not.
- Monitor and represent knowledge resource in matters relating to research ethics
- Maintain contact with The Swedish Ethical Review Authority (EPM)
- Contribute to increased awareness and increased collaboration on matters relating to research ethics
Members of the Ethical Advisory Board in South East Sweden
All members have a PhD within various disciplinary research domains and have experience in matters relating to research ethics.
Chair
Ewa Andersson, Linnaeus University
Members
Nauman Ghazi, Blekinge Institute of Technology
Ann-Kristin Olsson, Blekinge Institute of Technology
Gilbert Ambrazaitis, Linnaeus University
Goran Basic, Linnaeus University
Andrzej Zielinski, Region Blekinge
Elzbieta Kaszuba, Region Blekinge
Carin Benjaminson, Region Kalmar county
Jonna Idh, Region Kalmar county
Karin Pernebo, Region Kronoberg
Sofia Almerud Österberg, Region Kronoberg
Doctoral student representatives
Helen Dellkvist, Blekinge Institute of Technology
Caroline Hansén, Linnaeus University
Ellen Sverkersson, Linnaeus University
Secretary
Sandra Hedberg, Linnaeus University
Meeting times of the Ethical Advisory Board in South East Sweden
The Ethical Advisory Board in South East Sweden continuously reviews incoming applications and aims to provide feedback within 7 working days of the application being received.
You therefore do not need to submit your application a specific number of days before a meeting, but rather responses are continually forthcoming.
Application and forms for the Ethical Advisory Board in South East Sweden
The Ethical Advisory Board in South East Sweden receives applications during the semester periods and suspends its activities during the summer.
Before submitting a complete application to the Ethical Advisory Board in South East Sweden, you must do the following:
- Begin by performing your own ethical assessment of your project. The self-assessment is included in the application form.
- If it is apparent from your self-assessment that your project should be reviewed by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority then you send an application for a ethical review to them.
- When the self-assessment is done, you can obtain an advisory ethical assessment of your project by completing and submitting the application form to the Ethical Advisory Board in South East Sweden.
Submit the ethical self-assessment together with the application form and any attachments so that we can appraise your work.
We look forward to your application!
Applications are sent to:
sandra.hedberg@lnu.se
Applications, feedback provided and the personal information given in the documents (e.g. names, contact details and programme, university/university college and/or workplace) are processed within the Board and archived in the Board’s records (as per GDPR).