H-BRS and German Social Accident Insurance intensify cooperation

Kooperationsvertrag DGUV mit Hochschule Besuch Dr. Hussy September 2024

A good 20 years after the start of their collaboration, H-BRS and the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA) are renewing their cooperation agreement. In doing so, the institutions are emphasising their desire to work together more closely in the areas of research and teaching in the future. A central part of the agreement: the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) supports H-BRS in setting up its own ethics committee.

From left: Dr Stefan Hussy and University President Hartmut Ihne at the signing ceremony. Photo: Pascal Schröder

On 5 September, representatives of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) and the university met at the Sankt Augustin campus to sign the agreement. University President Hartmut Ihne was delighted that the long and successful cooperation will be deepened: "The German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) is one of the most important associations in the German social system. In addition to the regular exchange, we as a university benefit enormously from the personal expertise that flows into teaching and research, for example through honorary professorships," said Ihne.

The Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) is located in Sankt Augustin-Hangelar, just 1700 metres from the H-BRS. Dietmar Reinert, Director of the IFA, is himself an adjunct professor in the Department of Computer Science at the university. Students and researchers have been working on their projects in cooperation with the scientific facilities for years, including in computer science, analytical chemistry and security research. "By collaborating with the university, both partners benefit - we gain very good young talent and the university gains external funds for interesting projects in the field of occupational safety," explained Reinert.

From left: Professor Dietmar Reinert and Vice President Remi Maier-Rigaud at the signing ceremony. Photo: Pascal Schröder

For Dr Stefan Hussy, Director General of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), the higher education institution is therefore above all a place for making contacts: "In teaching and supervising final theses, we regularly come into contact with young people who have lots of new and interesting ideas. We would also like to supervise doctoral theses in the future," said Hussy at the signing ceremony.

An important component of the cooperation agreement that has now been signed is the mutual support of the institutions in ensuring good scientific practice. For example, the IFA can now consult the Ombudspersons of the university if there is a suspected case of scientific misconduct. In return, the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) advises H-BRS on the facilities of its own ethics committee.

Until this is in place, H-BRS researchers can contact the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) Ethics Commission. This should enable ethics votes for research projects to be processed much more quickly than was previously the case. "It was impressive for us to see how quickly the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) Ethics Committee was up and running after its establishment and the speed at which it now advises on research projects. This is a role model for us that we would like to learn from," said Vice President for Research and Young Academics, Remi Maier-Rigaud.

In addition to the planned introduction of an ethics committee, the university is in favour of a reform in the evaluation of research. In doing so, H-BRS aims to contribute to greater diversity and quality in research. Kristin Pöllmann, Coordinator for Internationalisation and Diversity Projects, represented the Diversity Management team at the meeting with the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV).