Terms of Reference and Constitution
Governance reporting line: Research and Enterprise Executive Group and University Executive Board
Document owner: Governance Services
1. Origin
The Research and Integrity Governance Committee (RIGC) reports to the Research and Enterprise Executive Group (REEG) via the Chair and to the University Executive Board via the Vice-President Research and Enterprise.
2. Purpose
RIGC’s core responsibility is to develop and foster a culture of research integrity, and to promote responsible research conduct and research governance and compliance amongst the University academic community.
3. Responsibilities and activity
Oversight of research integrity, and research governance and compliance including:
- Compliance with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity.
- Recommending, reviewing and consulting on required policy development for approval by UEB and other University Committees.
- Assessment of the impact of regulatory environment applicable to research and development of relevant policies, guidance and procedures.
- Oversight of the research misconduct procedure (staff) and advisory capacity for academic integrity matters (students).
- Review and consideration of reputational implications of collaboration with certain research partners (e.g., tobacco and weapons industry, hostile regimes).
- Receipt and review of annual Research Integrity Reports from RIGC members (including all University Faculties and relevant departments/teams) on activities undertaken to foster a culture of research integrity, as part of the annual research integrity exercise under the Concordat to Support Research Integrity.
- Oversight and advice in regard to provision of research integrity training to staff and students.
Oversight and support to the University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) and the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB) by way of guidance and dissemination of policies related to research activities.
Responsibility for oversight, development, implementation, and monitoring of certain University policies as per the Research Policies Action Plan. The policies within the RIGC remit include:
- Code of Conduct for Research
- Conflicts of Interest Policy
- Authorship, Contribution and Publishing Policy
- Responsible Collaboration (Tobacco Policy)
- Procedure for Investigating Cases of Alleged Misconduct in Research
- Policy for involving animals in research and education
- Research Data Management Policy
- Open Access Policy
- Responsible Research Metrics Policy
- Export Controls
- Nagoya Protocol
To ensure RIGC is fit for purpose by performing an effectiveness review every three years.
4. Reporting arrangements
RIGC shall report:
- To the Research and Enterprise Executive Group (REEG) via the Chair and to the University Executive Board via the Vice-President Research and Enterprise
- Indirectly to the University Council and Senate and the Audit Committee (as necessary or required) via the Vice President Research and Enterprise
Frequency of reporting: RIGC shall report on a termly basis.
The University Research Ethics Committee reports to RIGC.
5. Constitution
5.1 Membership
The membership of RIGC shall include:
- Vice-President Research and Enterprise (or delegate), (Chair)
- Associate Deans Research (ADRs) from all University Faculties:
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Director of the Doctoral College
- Chair of UREC
- Chair of AWERB
- Deputy Director Library Services
- Director of Finance – Business Support
- iSolutions Head of Research and Enterprise Services
- Head of Research Integrity and Compliance
- Head of Research Ethics and Clinical Governance
- Head of Information Governance
- Two lay/independent members
A single member may represent more than one membership positions listed above.
Current membership is set out in the Annex to these Terms of Reference.
A lay member is a volunteer who is independent of the University (i.e., an individual who has not studied at, been employed by, or held offices with the University in the last 3 years).
RIGC lay members should meet the following criteria:
- Be able to act independently and impartially and behave responsibly and ethically.
- Be able to understand key issues in research integrity and research compliance.
- Be able to contribute to the work of the Research Integrity and Governance Committee.
- Have access to a computer/other device with the Internet or be able to access the device provided by the University (e.g., via the University Library) in order access Committee papers and attend meetings (if held via the remote means).
- Be able to attend meetings and training sessions during the working day, 3-5 times a year (either in person or via the remote means). Preferably should live within a reasonable geographical proximity to the University (up to 30 miles), however this is not a requirement.
A lay member may be selected and appointed through a nomination or responses to adverts. Appointment is made by the RIGC Chair who may, if required, use appropriate selection process. Normally a term of a lay/independent member is 3 years, with the option of up to 2 renewals.
Lay members will be offered an annual honorarium of £250 (pro-rata for proportion of a year served), subject to review every 3 years, for their attendance and involvement with the RIGC. Lay members will be also reimbursed for reasonable expenses e.g., travel, childcare.
In line with the University Conflicts of Interest Policy, RIGC members must inform the Chair of any relevant conflicts of interests before, or at the beginning of the RIGC meeting. If the Chair has an interest in a matter under consideration by a Committee, a Deputy Chair who does not have a conflict of interest should be appointed to review the conflict and decide about any further steps required.
5.2Attendance at meetings
- Research Integrity and Compliance Team Representative(s).
- Research Ethics and Clinical Governance Team Representatives.
- The Committee may invite colleagues from the University to attend meetings on an “as required” basis.
- Secretariat provided by the Governance Team.
6. Quorum and frequency
6.1 Quorum
- For decision making the quorum shall be at least 6 members which shall include the Chair and at least 3 academic members (including Associate Deans Research, Chair of AWERB or Director of the Doctoral College).
- If the Committee is not quorate, any decisions made should be ratified by email communication by the required quorum or at a subsequent quorate meeting.
6.2 Frequency of meetings
- RIGC shall meet at least three times during an academic year. Each meeting should have minutes and agreed actions.
- All members are expected to attend all Committee meetings. Where this is not possible, a delegate of appropriate seniority should be appointed to attend the Committee in order to represent the respective Faculty, Department or Team.
7. Resources
- Secretariat support is provided by Governance Services.
8. Terms of Reference review
- Date of last review: November 2023
- Date of next review:November 2024
Annex
Current Membership
Vice-President Research and Enterprise (or delegate), (Chair) | Professor Mark Spearing |
Associate Deans Research (ADRs) from all University Faculties:
| Professor Helen Spurling Professor Diana Baralle Professor Stephen Darby Professor Mark Sullivan Professor Pauline Leonard |
Director of the Doctoral College | Professor Chris Howls |
Chair of UREC | Professor Mark Spearing |
Chair of AWERB | Professor Rohan Lewis |
Deputy Director Library Services | Suzanne Tatham |
Director of Finance – Business Support | Baljinder Puri (in place of Diretor Finance- Business Support) |
iSolutions Head of Research and Enterprise Services | Chris Yorke |
Head of Research Integrity and Compliance | Dr Julie Merriman Jones |
Head of Research Ethics and Clinical Governance | Linda Hammond |
Head of Information Governance | Sophie Ferguson |
Two Lay/Independent Members | Dr Anna Stamouli James Kenny |
In Attendance:
Research Integrity and Compliance Team Representative(s) |
|
Research Ethics and Clinical Governance Team Representative(s) | |
| |
Other colleagues from the University to attend meetings on an “as required” basis |
|
Secretariat | Governance Team |