Description: The UK Concordat to Support Research Integrity (revised 2019) is a national guideline signed by universities, funding agencies, and government. It provides a framework for good research conduct and robust governance of research. Among its five commitments, it explicitly calls for creating a research environment “underpinned by a culture of integrity and based on good governance, best practice, and support for the development of researchers.”. It requires institutions to have clear policies and leadership for integrity, and to deal with misconduct transparently. Essentially, it operationalizes ORRI principles (honesty, accountability, transparency, ethics) at the institutional level in the UK, ensuring that governance systems are in place to uphold these values.
Key Resources: The Concordat document (Universities UK, 2019) is the key reference, detailing the commitments and expectations for different stakeholders (researchers, employers, funders). It also aligns with the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. Notably, the Concordat mandates annual integrity statements from institutions, which has driven universities to improve their governance (e.g., setting up integrity committees, appointing research integrity officers). Guidance from the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) accompanies the Concordat to help implementation.
https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/policy-and-research/publications/concordat-support-research-integrity#:~:text=2,review%20progress%20regularly%20and%20openly
How It Helps Researchers: Researchers benefit from working in institutions that have adopted the Concordat because there is clearer guidance on what is expected and more resources to help them. For example, a researcher will likely receive training in ethics and data management, access to an ethics review board, and find that their university has a whistleblowing policy and a process to investigate issues fairly (The Concordat to Support Research Integrity) (The Concordat to Support Research Integrity). This supportive governance environment means researchers can focus on doing quality work, knowing the “rules of the game” and where to get help. Moreover, by adhering to the Concordat’s principles (e.g., being transparent about methods and results, reporting honestly), researchers enhance the reliability and social value of their work. The Concordat also boosts public and funder confidence in research, which indirectly benefits researchers through sustained support and funding for institutions that can demonstrate a culture of integrity.
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