Research Governance

Research Governance

This page provides key information relating to the research ethics and governance arrangements in place across the University.

It includes the University of Aberdeen Research Governance Handbook and provides information and direction to research staff and students on key issues in this area, including ethical review, unacceptable research conduct and training in research integrity and ethics & governance.

All stakeholders in research should be familiar with the University Handbook for Research Governance and the information contained on this page.

All research staff and students should be aware of the UKRIO Recommended Checklist for Researchers.  Developed by the UK Research Integrity Office, this lists the key points of good practice for all research projects and is applicable to all subject areas.  More detailed guidance is available in the UKRIO Code of Practice for Research.

For research staff and students seeking more information in relation to clinical research, please visit the following link: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/medical/researchgovernance/clinicalresearch/.

Research Governance Handbook

The University of Aberdeen Research Governance Handbook provides a framework for research ethics and governance at the University and applies to all academic disciplines.

It sets out the standards, principles and expectations for research ethics and governance which underpin the University’s approach to research, and provides an overview of the institutional structures in place for ensuring that the University meets the highest standards in its research ethics and governance arrangements.

It outlines the University’s approach to research ethics and provides information on the types of research that require ethical approval and how to obtain that approval. It details the University’s policy and guidelines for good research conduct, and its position on unacceptable research conduct, including the processes in place for reporting and investigating allegations of unacceptable research conduct.

It also provides information on the governance processes in place to support applications for research funding (such as peer review processes and registration of research projects), and details of the University policies for storing research records and research data management.

The Handbook is reviewed regularly to ensure that our standards and processes comply with those promoted by the UK Research Integrity Office.

Research Governance Handbook - Individual Sections

Glossary of Terms

  • Provides definitions of terms used throughout the Research Governance Handbook

Foreword

  • Foreword from Professor Nicholas Forsyth, Vice Principal Research

Section 1: Standards, Expectations and General Principles

  • Explains the standards, expectations and general principles which underpin the University's approach to research governance along with the University's commitment to meeting these expectations.

Section 2: The University's Research Ethics and Research Governance Structures

  • Explains the University's research ethics and governance structures. The University has an organisational structure in place to oversee research ethics and governance; to ensure that the institution meets its obligations in this area, and that it continues to seek and maintain the highest standards.

Section 3: Ethical Review

  • Explains the framework for research ethics and ethical approval of research. Research ethics refers to the moral principles underpinning research at all stages, from developing a project grant application, data collection, to writing up and disseminating their findings. The University is committed to promoting and facilitating the ethical conduct of research conducted by all of its staff and postgraduate and undergraduate students.

Section 4: Policy and Guidelines on Good Research Conduct & Statement on Handling Allegations of Unacceptable Research Conduct 

  • Explains the policy and guidelines on good research conduct.

Section 5: Research Grant Applications: Key Governance Processes

  • Explains the key governance processes involved in research grant applications. This section provides an overview of the arrangements in place for managing key requirements relating to the development of research proposals and funding applications.

Section 6: Research Data Management

  • Explains the University's approach to Research Data Management.

Section 7: Training in Research Integrity, Ethics and Governance

  • Explains the training opportunities in research integrity and research ethics and governance. The University is committed to ensuring that all researchers (staff and students) receive appropriate training opportunities as part of its over-riding commitment towards staff development and to achieving the highest standards of research governance.

Section 8: Internal Healthchecks and Monitoring

  • Explains the internal health checks and monitoring processes. The University carries out regular research ethics and governance "Health Checks" across the institution. The health check is an exercise designed to provide light-touch monitoring of the research governance arrangements in place at local levels. It is coordinated centrally by the Research Policy Committee and every School is involved. The Health check is intended to identify existing good practice and to highlight any local weaknesses in the University's current research ethics and governance arrangements.

Section 9: Repository of Key Research Ethics and Governance Documentation

  • Provides a list of the key documents and webpages (internal and external) relating to research ethics and governance.

Appendix: Institutional Arrangements for Research Ethics and Research Governance

  • Diagram illustrating the links between University Research Committee and associated groups, boards, committees and university policies and procedures and how these interrelate in support of research ethics and research governance activities across the University.
University Research Committee

The University Research Committee is responsible for driving and supporting the University's overall research objectives.

 

Committees for Research Ethics and Governance
Ethics Advisory Group

The Ethics Advisory Group has responsibility for oversight of research ethics and governance issues.  This includes developing and reviewing institutional policy on research ethics and governance; oversight of institutional ethics and governance processes and the activities of ethics boards/committees; receiving reports from ethics boards/committees; undertaking research governance healthchecks within Schools; acting as arbiter on any cases where ethics boards/committees fail to reach a decision on individual ethics applications; and hearing appeals against decisions taken by ethics boards/committees.  The group reports to the University Research Committee.  The group remit is available here.

The group meets on a quarterly basis.

Chair:  Dean for Knowledge and Understanding - Professor Nir Oren 

Members:

Chair of the Committee for Research Ethics & Governance in Arts, Social Sciences & Business (CREGASSB) - Dr Elizabeth Curtis
Chair of the Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition Ethics Review Board (SERB) - Professor Gareth Jones
Chair of the Rowett Ethical Review Board - Professor Alexandra Johnstone
Chair of the School of Psychology Ethics Review Board - Dr Ramakrishna Chakravarthi
Chair of the School of Biological Sciences Ethics Review Board - Dr Thomas Bodey
Chair of the Physical Sciences & Engineering Ethics Review Board - Professor Maria Kashtalyan
Chair of the AFG College Research Ethics Committee (Qatar Campus) - Dr Alessandro Ala
Lay member - Mr Nick Cargill

In attendance:

(Vacancy), Research Policy & REF Manager
Mr Dean Phillips, Assistant Director, Relationship Managment (Directorate of Digital and Information Services)
Miss Louise King, Research Governance Manager, Foresterhill
Mrs Dawn Foster, Research Policy & Governance Officer (Clerk)
Dr Mark Williamson, Research Ethics & Compliance Officer

In addition to our clinical governance structures there are six further committees/boards responsible for oversight of policy and procedure for the ethical review of research and for the development of appropriate guidance for the good practice of all research activity in schools and institutes, and aso the AFG College Ethics Board based in our Qatar Campus.  Further details are provided in the sections below.

Members of these committees are responsible for considering applications for the ethical review of research in accordance with University policy.

Arts, Social Sciences and Business

Committee for Research Ethics & Governance in Arts, Social Sciences & Business 

This Committee is responsible for oversight of ethics and governance arrangements and good practice in the broad research area of Social Sciences, including the Business School. 

Members of the Committee are responsible for considering applications for the ethical review of research in accordance with the institutional Governance Framework.

Each School has an Ethics Officer who is a member of the Committee and who can provide advice to members of their School on all matters relating to research ethics and governance.

Members

School Ethics Officers:

Senior academics external to the disciplines:

Senior representative from IT Services:

  • Mr Dean Phillips (Assistant Director, Relationship Management, Directorate of Digital and Information Services)

Representative from Research & Innovation:

  • Mrs Dawn Foster (Research Policy & Governance Officer, Directorate of Research & Innovation)

The Committee may also invite other members of staff to participate in committee meetings, as necessary.

The Committee's remit can be viewed here.  The Committee's Standard Operating Procedure for the ethical review of research can be viewed here.  The School Ethics Officers: Best Practice Guidance and Description of Duties can be viewed here.

Further information on research ethics and governance can be obtained from the Committee Clerk, Dr Mark Williamson.

Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition

School Ethics Review Board

The remit of the committee is to provide a review of ethical aspects of any research proposal for projects on human volunteers or human tissue samples carried out by University staff and students within SMMSN which are not covered by another committee e.g. the NHS Research Ethics Service, the Rowett Institute Ethics Panel or the Psychology Ethics Committee. 

Applications

SERB is now accepting applications through Worktribe. Training and instructions can be found at the University Ethics System: Worktribe webpage. Further guidance on applying to SERB as well as additional resources is available in the Ethical Approval for Research webpages. 

The dates for all other review meetings and application deadlines can be found here.

Contact Information

General enquiries: SMMSN Ethics Review Board
Chair: Professor Gareth Jones
Vice-chair: Dr James Ross
Clerk: Dr Katie Crosley

Physical Sciences and Engineering

Physical Sciences and Engineering Research Ethics Board

The Physical Sciences and Engineering Ethics Board is responsible for the ethical review of research and for the development of appropriate guidance for the good practice of all research activity within Physical Sciences and Engineering.

Members of the Committee are responsible for considering applications for the ethical review of research in accordance with the institutional Research Governance Framework.

Representatives from all Schools within Physical Sciences and Engineering (School Ethics Officers) sit on the Board. 

The Board's remit can be viewed here.  The Board's Standard Operating Procedure can be viewed here. The best practice guidance and description of duties for School Ethics Officers can be viewed here.

Members

The Board may also invite other members of staff to participate in Committee meetings and reviewing, as necessary.

For further information on research ethics and governance within Physical Sciences and Engineering please contact the Clerk to the Ethics Board at copsethics@abdn.ac.uk.

Psychology

Psychology Ethics Committee

Members of the committee are responsible for considering applications for the ethical review of research in accordance with the institutional Research Governance Framework.  The committee reviews and provides advice on research ethics for all research projects carried out in the School of Psychology, including undergraduate, postgraduate and staff projects. All research and all teaching exercises involving human participants and their data which is conducted under the auspices of the School must have received approval by the PEC (even if ethical approval has been given by some other institution). 

Further information on the Ethics Committee and their associated ethical review process can be obtained here.

Rowett Institute

Rowett Institute Ethics Panel

Members of the panel are responsible for considering applications for the ethical review of research.  The panel reviews and provides advice on research ethics for all research projects carried out in the Institute, including staff and student projects.

Further information on the Ethics Panel and their associated ethical review process can be obtained from Professor Alex Johnstone, Chair of the Rowett Ethics Panel, or Mr Gary Cooper, Quality Manager, Rowett Institute.

School of Biological Sciences

Staff and student research projects must be submitted for ethical review where the nature of the proposed research activity requires ethical approval.  For example,

  • projects involving research on animal and biological materials (e.g. ASPA regulated procedures, genetic material subject to the Nagoya Protocol), or
  • projects involving human participants (e.g. interviews, workshops, focus groups)

Ethical approval should be sought as early in the research process as possible, and certainly before the research commences. 

Note: the above list of criteria for ethical review is not exhaustive.  For further advice on whether your proposed research will require ethical approval, or to submit an ethics application, contact the SBS Ethical Review Board .

Ethical Approval of Research

Some types of research will need ethical approval before it can begin. Access further guidance on the University processes for obtaining ethical approval of research here.

Local Authority Process for External Ethical Approval

Research involving local authority facilities and services (including service users) e.g. schools (staff and pupils), transport services, environmental services, or analysis of local authority data may require external ethical review by the appropriate local authority.

Further guidance on the external ethical approval processes to be followed for research activity involving Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Angus Council and The Highland Council can be obtained here.

Please note that ethical approval for research activity must first be obtained from the appropriate internal University ethics approval process prior to the submission of an external ethics application.

Safeguarding in research and innovation

Whereas the term 'safeguarding' has previously focused on the consideration of potential harms that could arise when working with children or vulnerable adults, safeguarding in relation to research activities has an extended meaning.

Safeguarding (in terms of research activities) means the measures taken to ensure that all individuals that are employed on, participate in or otherwise come into contact with the research, do not come to harm as a result of their involvement.  This could include e.g.

  • staff and students
  • research collaborators
  • contractors
  • community volunteers
  • research participants
  • members of communities in which the research will be conducted

The University of Aberdeen has published a Safeguarding in Research and Innovation - Code of Practice which provides guidance on safeguarding issues arising from research activities, and explains the actions and mitigations that must be put in place by Principal Investigators for research projects (and the University) to ensure that researchers can comply with the guidance and are competent in identifying and addressing any safeguarding issues that may arise.

There are two parts to the Code of Practice: the first deals with the identification and risk management of safeguarding isues; the second explains the process for dealing with any concerns raised in relation to safeguarding in research activities.

Where the nature of the research indicates that safeguarding issues may arise, the Principal Investigator is required to prepare a safeguarding plan - please refer to the Safeguarding in Research and Innovation Plan - template for further information.  Safeguarding plans should be prepared and submitted as part of an application for ethical approval of research if your proposed research activity involves human participants as the 'subjects' of your research. 

For further guidance on safeguarding issues in research, please refer to the Safeguarding - Overview or contact the Research Policy & Strategy team.

Compliance with the Prevent Duty for Researchers

The University is committed to complying with the Prevent duty  under the Counter Terrorism & Security Act 2015 and the UK Government’s associated Prevent strategy. Guidance for researchers on compliance with the requirements of the act is available here.

Further information on the University's policy and procedures relating to the Prevent duty is available here

Conflicts of Interest in Research & Commercialisation

The University of Aberdeen believes that the establishment of links between its employees and outside bodies - whether government departments, commerce, industry or others - is not only in the public interest but also benefits the University and the individuals concerned.  However it is possible that such links may give rise to potential conflicts of interest.  The following Code of Practice is provided to help individuals assess whether or not proposed activities could cause a conflict of interest and to outline the procedure for disclosure of any perceived or potential conflict.

Trusted Research

Trusted Research

With more than half of UK research being a product of international partnerships, the UK Government's Trusted Research Guidance aims to support the integrity of our global research collaborations, which are vial to the continued success of the UK's research and innovation sector.

It is particularly relevant to researchers in STEM subjects, dual-use technologies, emerging technologies and commercially sensitive research areas.  Please consult the UKRI Trusted Research FAQs for further guidance.

The advice has been produced in consultation with the research and university community and is designed to help the UK's world-leading research and innovation sector get the most out of international scientific collaboration whilst protecting intellectual property, sensitive research and personal information.

The UKRI Trusted Research & Innovation Principles intend to:

  • Outline the potential risks to UK research and innovation
  • Help researchers, UK universities and industry partners to have confidence in international collaboratio and make informed decisions around those potential risks
  • Explain how to protect research and staff from potential theft, misuse or exploitation

Individuals, with the support of their Schools, are encouraged to complete the University of Aberdeen Trusted Research Assessment Proforma in order to gauge the level of risk involved with their international collaborations, using the NPSA Trusted Research for Academia as support.  This should also be referenced in the Worktribe Risk Assessment if this relates to a research funding application.

 

National Security and Investment Act (NSIA) 2021

National Security and Investment Act (NSIA) 2021

The National Security and Investment Act (NSIA) came into force on 4 January 2022. NSIA gives government the authority to call in an acquisition for assessment and scrutinise certain dealings in shares and intellectual property (IP) if it reasonably suspects these collaborations give risk to a risk to national security.  It is possible to call in and assess acquisitions since 12 November 2020 and applies whether the acquisition has been completed or is still in progress.

NSI Act Guidance for Higher Education

Subject to certain criteria, you are legally required to tell the government about acquisitions of certain entities in 17 sensitive areas of the economy (called 'notifiable acquisitions').  If you are entering into activity in these areas, it could put you in scope of the NSIA and you may be legally required to tell the government about it (know as a 'mandatory notification').  This guidance tells you what the activities are:

Detailed description of 17 economic areas and their Notifiable Acquisitions

Notifications can take three forms:

  • mandatory notifications
  • voluntary notifications
  • retrospective validations

An initial review period of 30 working days, followed by an assessment period of 45 working days will apply before the results are announced; resulting in:

  • the acquisition going ahead
  • a full national security assessment
  • request for further information, or
  • an in-person 'attendance notice' meeting being requested.

Researchers, with the support of their Schools, are advised to read the NSIA guidance and carry out the CPNI Trusted Research Checklist for Evaluating Research Proposals in order to gauge whether their collaboration will fall within this legislation and may need to be put forward for assessment.  Colleagues in the University's Research and Innovation Directorate have been briefed on the NSIA legislation and can advise on collaborations, studentships, consultancy and commercialisation projects.

Please also refer to  The National Security and Investment Act: guidance for universities (universitiesuk.ac.uk).

For those carrying out research in fields that could be used for military purposes, please refer to Export controls applying to academic research - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Research Ethics and Governance Training

The University is committed to ensuring that all researchers (staff and students) receive appropriate training in relation to research ethics and governance as part of its commitment towards staff development and to achieving the highest standards of research governance.

The University delivers a generic online training programme on research ethics and governance for all research staff and students, developed in consultation with the University's Ethics Committees/Review Boards.  This training is currently mandatory for all postgraduate research students, and became mandatory for all staff applicants for ethical approval of research (including members of their research team) as of 01 February 2022.  The training must be completed prior to the submission of an application for ethical approval of research.  The course includes training on the key generic issues which underpin research ethics and governance and is applicable to all disciplines.  Repeat training is required every five years.

Note: SMMSN staff who have already completed the Good Clinical Practice/Good Research Practice (GCP/GRP) NHS training will be exempt from this requirement, as will any staff who have completed similar training at a previous institution within the last five years (and who can provide supporting evidence of this).

The online training can be accessed through MyAberdeen:  www.abdn.ac.uk/myaberdeen (log in required)

Research ethics and governance training is also available locally across the institution, where there is a requirement for compliance with external regulatory bodies or legislation (such as the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; amended by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 2012/3039). This does not affect any specific training requirements by the NHS or home office regulations.  Staff who undergo ethics training as part of their clinical training or who have to complete research ethics training provided by other parties as part of their professional development are not required to complete the institutional ethics training.

Information on local training requirements should be sought from the appropriate School, or via line management.

For more information, please contact Mrs Dawn Foster, dawn.foster@abdn.ac.uk , or for PGR students, pgrs-training@abdn.ac.uk .

Research Integrity Training

The University is committed to ensuring that all researchers (staff and students) receive the appropriate training in relation to research integrity as part of its commitment towards staff development and to achieving the highest standards of research governance.

The University delivers a mandatory online training programme on research integrity for all research staff and students, and also staff involved in supporting research activities.    The training programme was developed by the University of Dundee and has been licensed for use by the University of Aberdeen with the approval of the University's Research Policy Committee. The programme includes training on the key generic issues which underpin research integrity and is applicable to staff at all stages of their career and to all disciplines.  Repeat training is required every five years.

The online training can be accessed through MyAberdeen:  www.abdn.ac.uk/myaberdeen (log in required)

For more information, contact Mrs Dawn Foster, dawn.foster@abdn.ac.uk, or for PGR students, pgrs-training @abdn.ac.uk .

Advice and Guidance from the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO)

UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO)

UK RIO - UK Research Intergrity Office - University of Aberdeen - Subscriber since 2017 - Subsctiption reference: ABE-01The University of Aberdeen has been a subscriber to the UK Research Integrity Office since 2017.

 

What is the UK Research Integrity Office?

The UK Research Integrity Office is an independent advisory body, offering support to the public, researchers and organisations to further good practice in research.  A registered charity, it was created in response to longstanding and growing concerns about the reliability of research.

UKRIO is the UK's most experienced research integrity organisation.  Since 2006, it has provided independent and expert support across all disciplines of research, from the arts and humanities to the life sciences.  It works to enhance good research practice, address mistakes, questionable practices and fraud, and improve the culture and systems of UK research.

 

What is research integrity?

Research integrity is another name for 'good research practice'.  It's the conduct of research in ways that promote trust and confidences in all aspects of the research process.

Research integrity covers all research and the whole lifecycle, from the initial idea and design of the project through the conduct of the research and its dissemination.  It also covers making sure that environments and systems for research safeguard and enhance good research practice, rather than hinder it - often described as 'research culture'.

See here for more about research integrity.

 

What can UKRIO offer researchers?

Education  - guidance and support through publications on research practice, training activities and a comprehensive events programme.

Sharing best practice - clear and honest development for the research community through facilitated discussions about key issues, informing national and international initiatives, and working to improve research culture.

Expert guidance - confidential and expert advice and guidance, as a proactive service for both insitutitions and individual researchers, as well as in response to requests for assistance.

 

Unacceptable Research Conduct

All stakeholders in research, including all academic staff, technical support staff, administrative support staff and students, have responsibility for reporting any allegation of unacceptable research conduct. Any formal allegation must be made in writing to the University Secretary.

Where a member of staff would like to discuss any allegation of unacceptable research conduct prior to making a formal complaint, they should, in the first instance, contact their line manager. If the staff member would initially be more comfortable discussing the issue with another party, they should contact one of the following:

  • The Chair of the appropriate University Research Ethics Review Board/Committee
  • The appropriate Dean of Research
  • The Vice Principal for Research and Knowledge Exchange

The University has a Policy and Procedure on Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblowing) relating to the treatment of whistleblowers under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. This includes a clear statement that unacceptable research conduct is taken seriously by the University and that any member of staff raising bona fide concerns in good faith can do so confidentially, and without fear of suffering any detriment, but equally disciplinary procedures are in place to deal with malicious allegations. The Policy and Procedure on Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblowing) also includes a clear indication of the procedures in which such bona fide concerns by staff may be brought to the attention of a designated individual within the institution.

For further information on the University’s Policy and Guidelines on Good Research Conduct, and its Statement on Handling Allegations of Unacceptable Research Conduct, please refer to Section 4 of the institutional Research Governance Handbook.

Key Documentation

Internal Documents

External Documents

What is Open Access?

Contemporary open access (OA) dates back to the 1990s although the idea of open access to scholarly journal articles can trace its origins back a further 50 years or so.

The contemporary open access movement strives to make research publications (but especially peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers) available globally, for free, to anyone, at their point of access. This is made possible by the increasing ubiquity of computer and telecommunications technologies. The unacceptable inflationary costs of traditional print models of scholarly journal publishing have given tremendous impetus to alternative contemporary open access publishing modes in recent years.

An open access journal article or conference paper can:

  • be viewed for free by anyone, including academics, other scholars, the general public etc.
  • normally be re-used in more ways than a traditionally published article.

University of Aberdeen Open Access Fund

The University receives a block grant to support open access publishing of UKRI funded research; the University also receives money from the Wellcome Trust to support open access publishing arising from Wellcome Trust funded research grants.

Together these block grants constitute the University of Aberdeen Open Access Fund. 

The University encourages use of the Green route for OA publishing. However, if your research is funded by either of these grant awarding bodies and needs to be published using the Gold route for open access (i.e. immediate open access availability on publication) you may be able to obtain funding for your APCs. Please see How to Make Your Research Open Access for more information.

The University benefits from a number of publisher deals which can be used be used where Gold open access is needed. These schemes are listed here - please note that there is no requirement for your research output to be funded by external funders to take advantage of these deals.

What should Researchers do?

The REF open access policy formally applies to papers accepted after 1 April 2016.

Any questions? Visit our Help and Support Page or E-mail openaccess@abdn.ac.uk 

Data Management

Data management impacts anybody engaged in the handling of information or data, on both a professional and personal level. Good practice ensures that these information and data are stored and backed up securely, can be located easily whenever they are required by the user and are preserved for the historical record.

Management of research data in particular is important for the dissemination of knowledge and the advancement of science and academia; this is reflected in the open access agenda advanced by the UK Government, funding councils, and institutions such as the Royal Society and the Finch Group.

Research Data Management

Management of data of all types has become increasingly digital and this presents challenges different to those associated with traditional paper-based methods. Unlike paper-based formats data storage is not stable – technologies become obsolete and media such as CDs or DVDs become unreadable over time, rendering the data contained on them useless.

Due to the pace of technological change there is a heightened risk associated with keeping electronic as opposed to paper-based records, thus presenting requirements and challenges to manage these records effectively, to ensure they are not rendered obsolete alongside the technology that supports them.

In recent years there has been rapid growth in research data produced by Higher Education institutions across the world. The EU, the UK and Scottish government recognise the need to better manage these data in order to make the best possible use of them.

Key funders of research at the University have also acknowledged this change and are now incorporating requirements for research data management into funding criteria.  Funders increasingly require underlying datasets to be made available, as primary research outputs for reuse by other researchers, in addition to the finished product or research in the form of published articles

Good data management incorporates management of data at every stage of the data lifecycle, covering data capture; storage; preservation; access; reuse; and where appropriate, disposal.

Compliance with the expectations of funders will be vital in ensuring researchers continue to secure funding for future research projects. The University will provide the necessary guidance in this process.

Making research data available to users is core to the remit of the UKRI Research Councils, supporting the development of institutional and project specific data management policies and plans in accordance with relevant standards and community best practice.

Funders Policies

Summaries of UK research funders' data policies are available from the Digital Curation Centre (DCC)

An overview of UK Research Funders' data policies can also be found at https://www.dcc.ac.uk/guidance/policy/overview-funders-data-policies

Research Data Management at Aberdeen

The University‘s Research Governance Framework provides guidance for good research conduct, including the security of research data and retention of research records.  

  • The Research Governance Handbook

The University of Aberdeen is a subscriber to the UK Research Integrity Office, and complies with the UKRIO standards of research integrity and governance, including the security and accessibility of research data. Access the UKRIO’s requirements on data retention and storage

Policy

The University policy on research data management is available here, and complies with all current research integrity and governance standards and funders' mandates for sharing research data.

Research data management plans

Some research councils and other major funders require a data management plan as part of the funding application. 

The Digital Research Team within IT Services can provide access to funder templates and advice and guidance where needed. Templates can be accessed at DMP Online. DMPs should be updated, where necessary throughout the project lifecycle. 

Costs for data management, including data storage and archive, are eligible from many grant funders, including the research councils. 

Further information:  

Institutional dataset catalogue

The University research information system, Pure, acts as our dataset catalogue. Pure allows for the recording of basic metadata and the storage of data within our institutional repository. For data stored in external (subject) repositories, Pure can record metadata and link to the dataset via DOI or weblink. The datasets can be linked to research publications and grants numbers on our grants database. They can be marked visible to public and will then appear in the research portal, where they are fully discoverable. 

Guidance on how to add datasets to Pure is available here. While the guidance is specifically written to support researhcers funded by the Engineering and Physical Research Council (EPSRC) the process can be used by any researcher who needs to upload or provide informaiton about datasets.

Support for Research Data Management (RDM)

The following teams and external services can support you with queries about Research Data Management

Digital Curation Centre

IT Services / Digital Research 

Information Governance

Records Management

Research Data Management Training

Scholarly Communications 

UK Data Service

Useful Links

 

Annual Statement on Research Integrity

Annual Statement to Court on activities undertaken to strengthen the university's research integrity arrangements.

Code of Practice for Research Involving the Use of Animals

The University's code of practice on the use of animals in research is available here.