University of Sunderland Annual Statement on Research Integrity 2019/20
Approved by Research and Innovation Group of the Academic Board.
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Approved by Research and Innovation Group of the Academic Board.
In 2012, Universities UK published the document, ‘The Concordat to support research integrity’ on behalf of the UK’s major research funding organisations (including the Research Councils, HEFCE and devolved funding councils) and joint signatories to emphasise their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research. In July 2013 HEFCE as a signatory to the Concordat wrote to all HE institutions outlining the need to demonstrate their compliance with it as a condition for research funding from 2014/15. The UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO), (an independent charity providing advice and support to the sector) recommended in 2013/14 that institutions develop a Code of Practice to strengthen compliance with requirements set out in the Concordat, supported by appropriate processes. The University’s Code of Practice was approved by the Academic Board at the beginning of 2014/15.
Under the Concordat, the University has five commitments:
1. To maintain the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research.
2. To ensure that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal, and professional frameworks, obligations and standards.
3. To support a research environment that is underpinned by a culture of integrity and based on good governance, best practice and support for the development of researchers.
4. To use transparent, robust and fair processes to deal with allegations of research misconduct should they arise.
5. To work together to strengthen the integrity of research and to review progress regularly and openly.
The UKRIO framework recommends the following conditions to meet Concordat requirements:
The University actively engaged in the consultation process undertaken in 2018/19 to review the Concordat. The process involving the seven signatories of the Concordat – the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland; the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales; the National Institute for Health Research; the Scottish Funding Council; UK Research and Innovation; Universities UK and the Wellcome Trust. The revised Concordat to support research integrity was published on 25 October 2019. The University commits to undertake all necessary compliance requirements outlined in the revised concordat and signatory partner correspondence when they come into force at the end of 2020.
The University of Sunderland is committed to maintaining the integrity and probity of its academic research. To this end the University regards it as fundamental that all research must conform to good academic practice and that the dissemination of the results must be truthful and fair, and has accordingly adopted a Code of Practice for Research to inform staff and students of the standards of behaviour it expects. The Code of Practice is neither a set of regulations nor a process document but is a general statement of principles and expectations in relation to the standards of behaviour of those engaged in research at the University. Nevertheless, the Code does reference institutional policies and processes that underpin the University’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity. All staff and students of the University are under a general obligation to act in a professional and ethical manner, and to preserve and protect the integrity and probity of research.
The University of Sunderland is committed to compliance with the formal agreement or ‘concordat’ concerning standards and integrity in UK research. The concordat embodies commitments that will assure Government, the wider public and the international community that research in the UK continues to be underpinned by the highest standards of rigour and integrity.
The standards of performance and behaviour expected of all those engaged in research at the University are as follows:
Guiding principles:
It is a requirement of the University that all staff and students involved in academic research access and observe the requirements of the Code. While establishing the general principles of research conduct, the Code cannot cover all situations and eventualities and therefore it is the responsibility of individuals to seek further guidance if in doubt. The Code is applicable to all academic staff, researchers, research students, research support staff, and research-related administrators.
The Code is not intended to limit research interest or endeavour. It does not imply a requirement for academics and students to be risk adverse in their research activity but rather to be risk aware and take responsibility for their actions. It seeks to ensure that all engaged in research are fully aware of the expectations placed upon them, are appropriately skilled to undertake their work to the highest possible standards, and establishes appropriate measures and procedures should things go wrong.
Fostering good practice in academic research is predominantly about self-regulation, supported by an environment and culture that promotes integrity at the highest level of the University. The University actively communicates the Code to all research active staff and students.
Failure of researchers to comply with the Code is likely to be subject to a formal investigation of misconduct and may result in disciplinary procedures.
The revised Concordat to support research integrity was published on 25 October 2019. This updated version of the concordat responded to recommendations set out in the Science and Technology Committee's report on research integrity, published in July 2018.
One of the key problems identified by the Committee was the absence of publicly available information on research integrity, including named points of contacts and annual statements published by research organisations.
When the concordat was published, the signatories of the Concordat agreed that there should be a 12-month period of implementation for the revised Concordat to support research integrity. The signatories indicated that this meant that employers of researchers, such as universities, must be able to demonstrate their commitment to the new concordat by 25 October 2020.
In practice, this means that all employers of researchers should be able to demonstrate that they have:
1. identified a named point of contact who will act as a first point of contact for anyone wanting more information on matters of research integrity, and ensure that contact details for this person are kept up to date and are publicly available on the institution's website.
2. provided a named point of contact or recognised an appropriate third party to act as confidential liaison for whistle-blowers or any other person wishing to raise concerns about the integrity of research being conducted under their auspices.
3. published an annual statement on how they are meeting the requirements of the revised Concordat.
The University of Sunderland has published Annual Research Integrity Statements on the University website since 2016/17. Details of an appointed named contact for all queries relating to research integrity (including the disclosure of concerns) were available over the same period.
The University Research Ethics Group (UREG) will undertake a full review of the revised integrity concordat to identify opportunities to further strengthen institutional compliance as part of its 2020/21 delivery plan. In accordance with the revised compliance requirements a link to the 2019/20 integrity statement will be submitted to the Concordat Secretariat (RIsecretariat@universitiesuk.ac.uk) prior to the published deadline of 25 October 2020.
In response to emerging Covid-19 restrictions, the University issued advice for staff and students engaged in ongoing research involving human participants. In accordance with Government guidance to reduce social contacts, staff and research students were asked to pause until further notice ongoing or planned research data collection involving face-to-face interaction with participants. Where face-to-face interaction was still necessary due to safety monitoring, researchers were required to update their risk assessments to take account of the ongoing situation. Significant changes to previously approved projects arising from the Covid-19 restrictions required staff and students to notify the UREG of the amendments. Amendments were required to be submitted through the University’s online ethics system in the normal way. The University Executive continues to monitor the evolving Covid-19 situation and will update guidance to researchers in-line with Government and Funder advice and requirements.
The Chair of the UREG appointment a small working group of members to review and update where required the University's research ethics policies and procedures. As a result of Covid-19 restrictions and other emerging University priorities, recommendations for revisions will now be received by the Research and Innovation Group at the beginning of 2021.
The responsibility for receiving allegations of misconduct in research lies with the Head of the Research Support Office. Contact details are available on external facing pages of the University website. All allegations are investigated under the processes and procedures outlines in the Code of Practice.
In 2019/20 one allegation of potential misconduct in relation to research integrity was received. The allegation was investigated in accordance with the University’s publication process and procedures. The investigation found no evidence of misconduct as defined in the Code of Practice for Research. As a result of the investigation, an Early Career Researcher was supported by members of the UREG to understand the highest standards of research design.