Independence, Non-Profit Purpose and Academic Integrity: Core Principles of LASA

The long-term credibility of an academic organisation depends not only on its name, activities or international contacts. It also depends on the principles that guide its decisions.

The Luxembourg Academy of Sciences and Arts was established as an independent, non-profit organisation. Its statutes define a mission centred on science, research, education, culture and the arts.

As LASA develops, independence, non-profit purpose, neutrality, transparency and academic integrity will remain central to its institutional identity.

Institutional Independence

LASA is an independent organisation registered in Luxembourg.

It is not a department of the Luxembourg Government, a public university or a state regulatory authority. It does not exercise governmental powers and should not be represented as speaking on behalf of Luxembourg’s public institutions.

This distinction protects both the Academy and the organisations with which it cooperates.

Independence enables LASA to communicate with institutions and individuals from different countries and professional backgrounds. At the same time, it requires the Academy to take responsibility for the accuracy of its own statements and activities.

LASA’s website, correspondence and cooperation documents should clearly identify the organisation responsible for each activity. Where LASA is a partner, supporter, participant or information-sharing platform rather than the principal organiser, that role should be stated accurately.

Political, Ethnic and Religious Neutrality

The statutes of LASA affirm political, ethnic and religious neutrality.

This does not mean that the Academy must avoid discussing important social or international issues. Academic organisations should be able to examine difficult questions through research, evidence and open dialogue.

Neutrality means that LASA should not be used as a vehicle for party-political campaigning, ethnic discrimination, religious exclusion or geopolitical propaganda.

The Academy seeks to provide an environment in which participants from different backgrounds can exchange ideas respectfully.

Academic debate may include disagreement, but it should not involve personal attacks, discrimination or the deliberate misrepresentation of evidence.

Non-Profit Purpose

LASA operates on a non-profit basis.

The Academy may receive donations, sponsorship, membership contributions or project-related support where appropriate. It may also incur reasonable costs in connection with administration, communication, events, publications and cooperation activities.

However, its resources must be used for purposes consistent with its statutes.

Members do not own shares in LASA and do not have a right to receive distributions from the Academy’s assets. Institutional expenditure should be reasonable, documented and connected to the organisation’s objectives.

The non-profit character of LASA does not mean that every activity must be free of charge. It means that financial arrangements should support the Academy’s mission rather than serve as a mechanism for distributing private profit to members.

Academic Integrity and Responsible Communication

Academic integrity is essential to LASA’s future work.

Research, publications, events and public statements associated with the Academy should be based on accurate information and appropriate attribution.

LASA supports the following principles:

• respect for original authorship and intellectual property
• accurate presentation of qualifications and institutional roles
• distinction between evidence, interpretation and opinion
• disclosure of relevant institutional or financial interests
• correction of significant errors when they are identified
• responsible use of digital and artificial intelligence tools
• avoidance of plagiarism, fabricated evidence and misleading claims.

The Academy should also take care when using terms such as “official”, “accredited”, “recognised”, “certified”, “national”, “governmental” or “state-level”.

Such terms should only be used when there is a clear and verifiable legal or institutional basis.

Responsible Membership and Recognition

LASA’s statutes allow for different forms of membership, including ordinary, supporting and honorary membership.

As the Academy develops its membership and recognition systems, procedures should be transparent and proportionate.

Membership should not automatically be presented as an academic degree, professional licence, public honour or government appointment.

Any future fellowship, award or honorary recognition framework should be governed by documented criteria, appropriate review and accurate public descriptions.

Financial support for LASA should not by itself determine academic recognition.

This distinction is important to protecting the reputation of the Academy and the individuals associated with it.

Responsible International Cooperation

LASA welcomes cooperation with universities, research institutions, cultural organisations, academic networks and other non-profit bodies.

Responsible cooperation requires clarity about:

• the identity and legal status of each organisation
• the objective of the cooperation
• the responsibilities of each party
• the authorised use of names and logos
• financial arrangements, where applicable
• the ownership and publication of resulting materials
• the duration and scope of the relationship.

A meeting, exchange of correspondence or participation in the same event should not automatically be described as a formal institutional partnership.

Formal cooperation should be supported by appropriate written documentation and institutional authorisation.

Developing Trust Through Transparency

LASA is a developing organisation. It does not need to present itself as larger, older or more active than it is.

A credible young institution can build trust by being clear about its legal identity, development stage, actual activities and future priorities.

Transparency also means acknowledging that plans may develop gradually and that not every proposed activity will become a formal programme.

The Academy will seek to communicate its progress in a factual and responsible manner.

LASA believes that a strong academic organisation is built through consistent standards, not exaggerated claims. Independence, non-profit purpose and academic integrity are therefore not only legal or administrative requirements. They are the foundation of the Academy’s future development.