Guidelines for the use of student work and students as informants in research projects at VID Specialized University
Adopted by the Principal on 8 June 2021, revised and approved by the Vice-Rector for Education on 17 March 2026
Background and general principles
According to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges § 2-1, it is the university college's objective to offer education and to conduct research. The university college's students and educational portfolio are important areas of research, and in addition, employees must be able to conduct research on their own practice. The guidelines for the use of student work and students as informants in research projects at VID Specialized University College lay down how this can be done, while at the same time safeguarding students' privacy.
In order to process personal data, the university college must, in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), have a legal basis for processing and the authority to do so. Although research is among the university college's main objectives, there is no specific authority to use students and student work for research purposes.
Students have not consented to their names and contact information being shared. Students' work, such as exam papers, is considered their property. This means that students must give informed consent for information or work to be disclosed and used for research purposes.
All research projects that process personal data must comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation, be reported to Sikt's privacy service, and comply with current research ethics guidelines.
Provisions for employees at VID Specialized University College
If employees want students as informants, consent to participate must be obtained. Academic staff can contact students themselves, in connection with teaching, via Fagpersonweb or via the learning platform, to ask about participation.
If employees want access to exam papers and other student work, this must, as a general rule, be planned in advance so that students in connection with submission can consent to being contacted for research purposes.
Requests for consent in connection with submissions should normally only be addressed to entire cohorts, not to specific selections such as students with minority names, students with disabilities, students who have achieved specific results, etc. (1)
Provisions that apply to external researchers and research projects
As a general rule, the university college shall not disclose personal data to external parties. This means that the university college shall not find and share names, national identity numbers, addresses or other personal data with external researchers in external research projects. (2)
Information about participation in external research projects can, after assessment by the dean/associate dean/centre director, be placed on the university college's website and/or learning platform, and students can register themselves if they wish to participate.
Footnotes
1. Exceptions are assessed by the Vice-Rector for Research
2. Exceptions to this rule are the Student Barometer (NOKUT), the candidate survey (NIFU STEP), SHoT – the Students' Health and Well-being Survey (student welfare organisations) and other surveys that are of such great national or political importance that the Principal decides that VID's students shall be included.