1. The University of Bath is a leading research university committed to maintaining the highest standards of research excellence and integrity. This is the third University statement setting out the actions and initiatives we have undertaken to sustain and further enhance integrity in our research.

2. The University of Bath fully upholds the principles outlined in The Concordat to Support Research Integrity (Universities UK, July 2012).

3. We have a long-standing commitment to high standards in research ethics and integrity, which is reflected in our University Strategies and Code of Ethics. The current Research Strategy 2016-21 includes a key objective: ‘To maintain the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research and to have appropriate policies, systems and procedures in place to ensure compliance with the Concordat to support research integrity’.

4. Activities that we have undertaken to support and raise awareness of research integrity in 2016/17 include:

• We have set out Our Values and updated our Code of Ethics and our University Strategies, including our Research Strategy, for the period 2016-2021
• We are reviewing our Code of Good Practice in Research Integrity
• We have reviewed the Terms of Reference of Research Committee and Ethics Committee
• We have launched an online ethics approval process and reporting tool for research, consultancy and KTP
• We have continued to put in place actions arising from the Audit report on Research Integrity to enhance and strengthen our arrangements
• We have adopted a definition of Research Integrity to provide clearer guidance on what we mean
• Research Integrity and Ethics web pages have been re-structured around user needs
• We have continued our programme of annual development days for Departmental Research Ethics Officers with an increased emphasis on research integrity in addition to research ethics
• We have monitored that there is an annual slot for research integrity discussions at all Departmental staff meetings
• We have developed and approved a statement of principles on the University’s approach to research assessment and management
• We have disseminated examples of good practice and the PVC (R) has issued statements on Integrity and Ethics and the New Electronic Research Ethics Process
• In October 2015 we established a Task and Finish Group, Chaired by the PVC, Research, to advise the Electronic Environment Project and work continues on implementing the fully automated and electronic environment to support an improved research proposal and award management process

5. In addition to the actions listed above, our continued review and monitoring of processes, policies and training in particular through the University Research Committee, the Ethics Committee and the Post-Audit action plan, will ensure our ongoing commitment to high quality and ethical research.

Version number: 3
Approval date: 18 July 2017
Approved by: Council