The University of Bath has an international reputation for the quality of its research.
In order to maintain the highest standards, we are constantly looking to strengthen the processes and culture that will embed integrity, ethics and excellence at the heart of our research activity.
We uphold the principles set out in the Concordat to support Research Integrity (Universities UK, July 2012). The Concordat outlines what is expected of researchers and their employers.
To enhance our guidance on research conduct, we have taken the following new steps:
Research integrity means conducting research in a way which allows others to have trust and confidence in the methods used in conducting research and the findings that result from this.
Conducting research with integrity also means meeting the professional standards expected.
The University takes as its starting point the definition of research integrity provided by the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, the key elements of which are honesty, rigour, transparency and the care and respect of all participants.
We apply robust ethical principles not only to our research but to all our activities.
We expect all staff and students to act responsibly and ethically, which means with selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
Ethical conduct means acting consistently in a way that is ethical and fair and encouraging others to do likewise; it should not be an isolated response to a specific situation.
Our updated Code of Ethics is based on our Values as articulated in the University Strategy 2016 to 2021.
- Research and Ethics Committees and their roles
- Research Committee oversees research integrity across the University, including monitoring compliance with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity.
- Ethics Committee promotes and monitors good practice in respect of the management of ethical issues and has power to establish a Panel to review the ethical implications of research projects where these do not fall within the scope or remit of existing ethics committees.
We are committed to making public a statement on our support for strengthening research integrity at the University.
Our policies provide the framework in which we deliver our commitment to research integrity and ethics.
Our conversations are on-going at every level to improve our support for research integrity and ethics and to ensure that our arrangements work well.
If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns about research integrity or ethics at the University, please email me on j.c.knight@bath.ac.uk or one of the people on the contacts page.