Research Integrity

Leeds Beckett University is strongly committed to fulfilling the principles of the Concordat to Support Research Integrity (2012) which create a comprehensive framework for responsible research conduct and governance.

The principles and commitments include:

maintaining the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research;
ensuring that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards;
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;
using transparent, robust and fair processes to deal with allegations of research misconduct should they arise;
working together to strengthen the integrity of research and to reviewing progress regularly and openly.

In compliance with the Concordat, the University publishes an annual Statement on Research Integrity which is considered by the Audit Committee. The Statement provides a summary of actions and activities that have been undertaken to support and strengthen understanding and application of research integrity issues. The Statements are available via the following links:

Annual Statement on Research Integrity 2017/18

Policy Framework

The following documents are published on the University website and form a framework to ensure good practice in research and clear procedures for dealing with any issues which arise in this area:

Research Misconduct

The University takes any allegation of research misconduct very seriously. The University is committed to ensuring that allegations of misconduct in research are investigated with all possible thoroughness and vigour.

In 2015 Leeds Beckett University approved a new set of Policy & Procedures for Investigating Allegations of Misconduct in Research. As part of this review exercise, the University reviewed its practice against the Universities UK Concordat to support research integrity (2012), the RCUK Policy and Guidelines on the Governance of Good Research Conduct (2013) and the UK Research Integrity Office’s Procedure for the Investigation of Misconduct in Research (2008).

Under the University’s compliance framework the Board of Governors delegates oversight of investigations into allegations of misconduct in research to the Audit Committee. An annual report is considered by the Audit Committee in June each year which provides a high level statement on any formal investigations of research misconduct that have been undertaken

Management and Governance

Professor Andrew Slade, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) has institutional responsibility for research and through our Research & Enterprise Committee oversees good practice, innovation and ethical conduct in research and other scholarly activity.

Email: andrew.slade@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Telephone: 0113 81 29120

The Research & Enterprise Committee and the Research Ethics Sub-Committee have responsibility for oversight of matter related to Research Integrity and ethical research. Further details concerning both committees, including terms of reference & membership, can be found via the following links:

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Research Integrity