UU requires a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from academics

The university had previously decided that such a certificate was required for several support roles, such as security staff and pharmacists. Now, the same rule also applies to new professors and associate professors, as well as to current UU staff members who are promoted to these positions.

The measure is part of Utrecht University’s new policy on pre-employment screening (accessible to users with a Solis ID, Ed.). The university hopes that conducting more thorough background checks on new staff members will ensure that they are honest, trustworthy and do not pose a risk to knowledge security in the Netherlands.

Assessment
A list has been drawn up of all UU positions for which a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) is required. The list was determined based on four criteria: whether staff have access to confidential information, whether they hold significant financial responsibilities, whether they work extensively with vulnerable individuals, and whether they have access to hazardous substances or goods.

Several members of the University Council asked the university administration why the university doesn't require such a certificate from all lecturers. The new policy seems to focus on researchers, while lecturers work with young – sometimes even underage – students, which is also risky. Responding to these questions at a committee meeting, UU President Hans Brug explained that the university has decided to focus on roles in which knowledge security is at stake.

Sensitive knowledge
The VOG requirement is not the only policy the Executive Board is introducing in this regard. In addition, new staff members from outside the EU must be screened to determine whether they pose a potential threat. This was stated in a memorandum to the University Council (accessible only with a Solis ID, Ed.). The university deems this screening necessary when a foreign employee has access to sensitive technology or is from a country subject to international sanctions. The idea is to prevent university knowledge from falling into the hands of malicious individuals or countries. 

UU's new policy anticipates a statutory duty that the Ministry of Education may impose on Dutch universities. The ministry is working on a bill to subject researchers and Master’s students to a screening process to guarantee knowledge security. It remains to be seen, however, whether this law will ever come into force. As a general rule, Dutch universities are strongly opposed to the proposal, citing considerable administrative burdens.

UU is proposing that departments carry out their own checks using the university’s Knowledge Security assessment framework and a so-called "trigger list" drawn up by the university. Among other things, this would involve carefully examining how a prospective employee came into contact with UU and how communication with that person has proceeded.

The University Council complained that the university implemented the policy before submitting it to the representative bodies. Furthermore, questions were raised during committee meetings about safeguarding the privacy of the lecturers in question. However, the Council did not appear to have any major objections.