Research Security
AU has implemented guidelines designed to protect research from being misused. The goal is for researchers to work as openly as possible - and as securely as necessary.
If you are interested, you can read more by clicking the “URIS guidelines” button.
Below you can read about the mandatory project screening that must be carried out before the start of research projects, background screening that must be conducted prior to the employment of candidates from certain countries, travel to high-risk countries, and rules for the registration of secondary employment
Project screening
AU has introduced guidelines for the risk assessment of research and project collaborations that involve applications for external funding and/or written collaboration agreements.
The decision tree below illustrates how you, as a member of staff or as a manager, are required to carry out a risk assessment of a project.
The decision tree also provides information on the circumstances in which you must contact the Background Screening Office and the Research Data Office, respectively.
Their contact details can be found on the right-hand side.
Background screening
Background screening is applied in several cases at AU where high-risk countries are involved, or where the research field is assessed as “controlled” or “critical”.
This applies, among other things, to recruitment, PhD students and guest visits where the applicant holds citizenship of a high-risk country. Changes between research environments may also lead to background screening.
Background screening must be carried out if at least one of the following two conditions applies:
- The candidate/applicant holds citizenship of a high-risk country.
- The research field is assessed as falling within “critical research”, and the candidate does not hold citizenship of one of the pre-approved countries (all EU countries, the United Kingdom, the United States, Norway, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Iceland and Liechtenstein).
Background screening of guests and interns
Background screening of guests and interns is not supported by the recruitment system.
Please contact the secretariat (Helle Elbæk, hea@mpe.au.dk), who can help guide you through the process described here.
Further information
You can read more about background screening here.
Travel to high-risk countries
At present, Iran, Russia and China are defined as high-risk countries. Travel to high-risk countries must be risk assessed and approved in writing by the Head of Department.
Instead of bringing your own AU IT equipment when travelling to high-risk countries, AU recommends using an IT travel kit.
You can read more about what an IT travel kit includes and how to borrow one below.
You can read more about travel to high-risk countries here.
Guidelines on secondary employment
Academic staff are required to declare any secondary employment annually where it is related to their role at Aarhus University.
If the secondary employment is related to a high-risk country, or falls within “critical” or “controlled” research, the employee must report the secondary employment to the Head of Department no later than 14 days in advance.
If the secondary employment is deemed compatible with the position at AU, AU’s standard guidelines on secondary employment will apply.
You can read more about the general guidelines on secondary employment here.
