University of Sunderland Annual Statement on Research Integrity 2021/22

Introduction

The University is a signatory to the Concordat to Support Research Integrity (UUK 2012, updated 2019), the UK’s national policy statement on research integrity. As a signatory to the Concordat, the University is required to publish an annual statement outlining what we have been doing to further strengthen the integrity of research, it also provides detail on any cases of research misconduct or formal investigations that have been undertaken in 2021-22.

The University of Sunderland welcomes the Concordat to Support Research Integrity and is committed to fulfilling its five commitments:

1. Maintaining the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research.

2. Ensuring that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards.

3. Supporting 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. Using transparent, timely, robust and fair processes to deal with allegations of research misconduct when they arise.

5. Working together to strengthen the integrity of research and to review progress regularly and openly.

Actions and activities to support and strengthen understanding and the application of research integrity issues

The action plan report provides a substantive update on the activities undertaken in the 2021/22 Academic Year and those planned for during the 2022/23 academic year at the University which helps to promote a positive culture of research integrity.

This Annual Statement summarises the actions and activities undertaken during the 2021/22 academic year to strengthen research integrity.

Activities undertaken

• During 2021/22 the University undertook a review of all guidance notes on the University website and transferred the content across to the Research SharePoint (Concordat action 1.2)
• A Research Ethics Space was created within LinkedIn Learning for staff to access which provides training on the ethics system, an information sheet and consent form and a presentation discussing all aspects of research ethics. This training is mandatory for all staff wishing to commence an ethics application form, supervise student projects, etc.
• The annual research integrity statement was circulated to all staff in addition to the action plan which included links to the appropriate policies and training resources.
• A review of the whistleblowing policy and adding contact details within our research and governance webpage and our membership to UKRIO.
• An annual review to check and consider new issues that emerged both internally and externally, and the development of additional guidance and news items to staff and students, frequently published within our Research SharePoint pages.
  
  

The review of research ethics policy and procedures is ongoing.

Allegations of misconduct processes

The University guidelines for investigating and reporting allegations of misconduct in academic research by members of staff and also for investigating and resolving allegations of misconduct in academic research by research students. These policies are included within the 2022-22 action plan to be continuously monitored and reviewed (when needed).

Reporting instances of misconduct

University guidelines are administered by the Academic Director of Postgraduate Research and Chair of the University’s Research Governance and Integrity Ethics Group and include a clear framework for the investigation and resolution of allegations of misconduct including the procedure processes.

Academic research misconduct investigations 2021/22

The University has conducted 14 (undergraduate and taught course) formal investigations of academic research misconduct during this period where the students were found to have failed to gain ethical approval for their work.

Lessons learned from misconduct investigations

Overall, we have seen a significant increase in the number of ethics applications. Applicants are required to undertake an initial risk assessment to determine whether the research requires ethical approval. The introduction to the LinkedIn learning research ethics module has provided additional support to both staff and students, and we continue to see a good response rate. We also require supervisors and reviewers to undertake further training every three years and to complete an assessment to ensure they have fully understood the content of the training.