Concordat to support research integrity

Developed by Universities UK in collaboration with the funding and research councils, the Wellcome Trust and various government departments, the Concordat to Support Research Integrity provides a national framework for good research conduct and its governance. It sets out five commitments that all those involved with research should make and will provide assurances to 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:

• Commitment 1:  To maintain the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research.

• Commitment 2:  To ensure that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal, and professional frameworks, obligations and standards.

• Commitment 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.

• Commitment 4:  To use transparent, timely, robust and fair processes to deal with allegations of research misconduct should they arise.

• Commitment 5:  To work together to strengthen the integrity of research and to review progress regularly and openly.

The University of Dundee fully supports these commitments and believes that the high level aspirations outlined in the Concordat provide an excellent framework within which to review and, where necessary, strengthen the University’s  current  policies and procedures to support research integrity. This work is being conducted by the University’s Research Governance & Policy Sub-Committee, which is responsible for ensuring that the governance and policy context for the undertaking of research within the University is optimal (up-to-date with current legislation, ethically appropriate and fit-for-purpose).

Reporting

Since 2011, the Research Governance & Policy Sub-Committee has provided an annual report on it activities to the University Court which, from academic year 2012/13, has included a statement on any formal investigations of research misconduct that have been undertaken.