Particular concern about academic ethics in Lithuanian academia was addressed in 2009 by the national decision to establish an Office of Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures (Office). The decision was taken during the approval of the revised Law on Higher Education and Research by the Parliament of Lithuania (Seimas). However, the Office began to function at full extent a few years later, in 2013, when the first ombudsperson was appointed by Seimas.

Initially, the Office has been assisted by the Advisory Board composed of delegates from diverse stakeholders, such as Research Council of Lithuania, Lithuanian University Rectors’ University, Lithuanian Association of Junior Researchers, Lithuanian Bar Association, and others. Later, the Office has started to set up different working groups that are invited to share expertise in particular cases (e.g. issue-specific guidelines development) and help to improve academic practices. In addition to this, the Office invites individual experts to find out the scale and type of academic malpractice.

The team of the Office is composed of employees contracted as public officers (e.g. advisors and senior specialists for public administration) and as regular employees (e.g. senior specialists for technical assistance). Public officers’ educational background is law.

Research Council of Lithuania (RCL) is the governmental institution responsible for implementing research and development (R&D) policy in Lithuania. Acting as an independent advisory body for the Lithuanian Government (Government), the RCL provides expert guidance to the Government and other national decision-makers on matters related to research policy.

RCL’s mission is to promote Lithuania’s competitive participation in the global creation of knowledge. In this regard, the RCL’s activities are centred around three core domains: R&D funding, the formulation of research policy, and the research quality (encompassing research ethics and integrity). The RCL administers national research programmes, oversees competitive funding for research projects, and fosters innovation across various fields of sciences. It is also responsible for setting national research priorities and implementing relevant strategies. Responsible conduct of research is paramount to ensure in the RCL’s operations.

In line with its Statutes, the RCL adheres to the principles of transparency, objectivity, impartiality, non-discrimination, and equal opportunities, while taking all necessary measures to ensure compliance with the principles of research ethics (that also includes research integrity).