Research Integrity Annual Statement 2017-2018

Research integrity

This is UCLan’s Annual Statement of Integrity for 2017/18 which will cover i) Policies and Procedures; ii) Training and Development; iii) Research Malpractice/Complaints; and iv) Ongoing Review and Oversight.

Background

The Universities UK Concordat for Research Integrity (2012) requires of each signatory a short annual report to their governing body, demonstrating how the principles and ethos of integrity are embedded within the governance framework; and compliance with the Concordat is achieved.

Any queries in relation to this report should, in the first instance, be addressed to the author, and first point of contact for Research Integrity, the University Officer for Ethics at the following email address: officerforethics@uclan.ac.uk.

Policies and Procedures

The University has a Code of Conduct for Research, and an Ethical Principles document, both of which are reviewed annually by the Ethics and Integrity team within Research Services. Approval for any amendments is via the University Ethics Committee and final sign off is gained via Academic Board. In relation to research malpractice, it has a Code of Practice for the Investigation of Allegations of Research Malpractice.

Training and Development

The University recognises that the ultimate responsibility for personal and professional development of researchers lies with the individuals themselves, and provides a supportive and training-rich environment with opportunities for engagement. Committees with responsibility for ethics, at Faculty and University level, also engage in reflective practice via case conferencing on previous applications in order to cascade shared learning. The University benefits from membership of Vitae, UKCGE(United Kingdom Council for Graduate Education), and ARMA (Association of Research Managers and Administrators) – the latter of which has recently absorbed AfRE (Association for Research Ethics) –benchmarking all development opportunities against the RDF (Researcher Development Framework)and other sector standards, where appropriate.

Research Malpractice / Complaints

The University has a Code of Practice for the Investigation of Allegations of Research Malpractice. This is reviewed biennially. Any suspected incidences of malpractice are required to be notified to the University Officer for Ethics, as detailed in the document. All reported instances are investigated according to the procedure within the Code, and findings recorded. Where research misconduct as opposed research malpractice is identified, there is the potential to invoke the HR Disciplinary Procedure.

Number of Reported Allegations of Research Misconduct 2017-2018 (Sep 17 – Aug 18)

During the period September 2017 to August 2018, there was one complaint received and after investigation found to be an issue with another University when the employee worked there. As such the investigation panel deemed it not to be a reported case for UCLan and thus not be reported in our Annual report. The appropriate office of the other University was contacted, and it was found that their own processes had been observed, and there was no case of malpractice in relation to this on file.

Ongoing Review and Oversight

The University will maintain oversight of the conduct of researchers through the governance framework as referenced above and illustrated below, supported by the ongoing provision of a comprehensive and current professional development programme.

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