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Research Integrity
Research integrity (Responsible Conduct of Research) encompasses responsible conduct of research, training of researchers at all levels, research data management and management of research misconduct.
UCC is committed to ensuring the highest standards of integrity in all aspects of research, founded on basic principles of good research practice to be observed by all researchers and research organisations. UCC is part of the National Forum on Research Integrity. The forum membership is drawn from research funders, research performing organisations and other relevant organisations.
UCC subscribes to UKRIO, experts in the field of Research Integrity and provide access to essential resources and services. The UKRIO help institutions achieve high standards when managing challenges to research integrity. They also support individuals faced with bad practice. UKRIO advice and guidance emphasises the good practice that runs across all research disciplines and all regulatory remits.
Conducting our research with integrity applies to all disciplines and stages of the research process, and it is essential for excellence in research. It applies to those carrying out research at all stages of their career and/or those involved in supporting research. Specifically the Code of Research Conduct applies to:
- All Research staff including postdoctoral researchers, research fellows and all staff engaged with research and staff involved in the research process (including technical, clerical, clinical and administrative staff employed by and visiting UCC).
- Research leaders and Principal Investigators.
- All Research collaborators.
- All supervisors of postgraduate and undergraduate research.
- UCC postgraduate and undergraduate students.
A positive Research Culture underpins Research Integrity and research excellence.
Institutional Requirements for Researchers
Disseminate Research Integrity Information
- Colleges and Units are expected to circulate and ensure the wide dissemination of key Research Integrity policy documents and guidance information, to all research personnel in your their areas: postgraduate research students, post-doctoral researchers, research support staff, Senior Researchers/Principal Investigators, College Executives and Research Committees.
Knowledge and compliance with key Research Integrity Policies
Research Integrity Training
At a very minimum it is expected that all UCC research personnel complete the Epigeum online training in Research Integrity, which is endorsed by the National Research Integrity Forum (NRIF). The NRIF recommendation is that this course should be taken at least once every three years in order for researchers to keep abreast of trends and developments in Research Integrity at a national and international level.
UCC Research Community stakeholders are strongly encouraged to avail of additional training in Research Integrity such as the Digital Badge in the Responsible Conduct of Research.
UCC Code of Research Conduct
The UCC Code of Research Conduct (Version 2.4 14th September 2021) provides a robust framework for the proper conduct of research and provides guidance for researchers on the standards expected at UCC. The Code captures the responsibilies of the University and the research community with respect to the conduct of research, including principles of good practice, ethical approval, competence, responsibility, integrity, rights and dignity of research participants, data management and dissemination.
The UCC Code of Conduct (Version 2.4) includes the following updates and revisions:
- GDPR regulations (Section 7.4);
- Data retention regarding undergraduate research projects and taught postgraduate programmes (Section 8.9, Page 17, Footnote 24);
- Procedure for identifying the revelant ethics committee (Appendix A, Page 22).
National & EU Research Integrity Policies & Guidance
Ireland is close to the world’s top research performing nations in terms of research quality and impact related to its size. The National Policy statement (2014, revised 2019) aims to commit the main organisations in Irish research to the highest standards of integrity in carrying out their research so that partners and other stakeholders, and the international research community may have full confidence in the Irish research system. The policy statement provides a gold standard for researchers in Ireland.
The National Forum on Research Integrity (NRIF) was established in June 2015. It is coordinated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA).
The HEA Principles of Good Practice in Research in Irish HEIs are focused at institutional level and intend to promote good practice in research conduct by:
- Bringing together the main elements of good practice in higher education research.
- Articulating high-level principles within each of these.
- Signposting to more detailed policies where available.
The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity serves the European research community as a framework for self-regulation across all scientific and scholarly disciplines and for all research settings.
The 2017 revised edition of the Code addresses emerging challenges emanating from technological developments, open science, citizen science and social media, among other areas. The European Commission recognises the Code as the reference document for research integrity for all EU-funded research projects and as a model for organisations and researchers across Europe.
Research Integrity Resources for Research Collaborations
In 2022 The National Research Integrity Forum (NRIF) published the national Framework to Enhance Research Integrity in Collaborations.
Collaboration is central to research and innovation. Increasingly, researchers work together and with a wide range of external stakeholders to deliver outcomes that expand the boundaries of human knowledge and have the potential to deliver real benefits for today’s rapidly developing society. Collaborative research can occur within and between national higher education or research performing institutions (inter-institutional collaboration), between and across different research disciplines (inter- or multidisciplinary collaboration), across national borders (international collaboration), and with a range of different partners including other higher education institutions, state research bodies, public sector organisations, private enterprises and civic/civil society organisations (CSOs) such as charities and voluntary organisations (inter-sectoral collaboration).
The Framework to Enhance Research Integrity in Collaborations is an essential and critical document to ensure all research personnel across the institution uphold the principles and practices of responsible conduct of research and research integrity. In keeping with Ireland’s National Policy Statement on Ensuring Research Integrity and with The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, collaborating partners need to commit to upholding the fundamental principles that underpin the integrity of all research activity. In addition to upholding and adhering to these aforementioned policies, stakeholders across the UCC Research Community are expected to:
- Uphold the principles outlined in the UCC Code of Research Conduct and the Framework to Enhance Research Integrity in Collaborations.
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Colleges and Units are expected to circulate and ensure the wide dissemination of this key document, , to all research personnel in your respective areas: postgraduate research students, post-doctoral researchers, research support staff, Senior Researchers/Principal Investigators, College Executives and Research Committees.
International Guidance-Research Integrity Resources for Research Collaborations
