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Allegations of Misconduct in Research
The University is committed to ensuring that all allegations of misconduct in research are treated seriously and fairly and their merit investigated with integrity and sensitivity.
The University's Procedures for Dealing with Allegations of Misconduct in Research outline the actions to be taken when any allegation of misconduct in research is brought against any present or past member of staff of the University in respect of research undertaken while employed by the University and/or while registered as a student at the University. For any advice or guidance in using this Policy, please contact researchintegrity@uea.ac.uk.
The principles set out in Parts A and B of this Policy will apply to allegations of misconduct in research against a present or past student while registered by the University, where they are not also a present or past member of staff of the University. However, the actions to be taken will follow a different Procedure (Parts C - G are NOT applicable), as set out in the University’s Calendar, Procedures for Investigating Allegations of Research Misconduct Made Against Students. For any advice or guidance in using this Policy, please contact Mel Steel in Postgraduate Research Service (m.steele@uea.ac.uk).
The number of formal alleged cases of research misconduct will be reported in the University’s Annual Research Integrity Report. This Report is produced to comply with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, and is a requirement of the US Office of Research Integrity (ORI) in the US. Allegations of research misconduct involving US Public Health Service funding must be reported to researchintegrity@uea.ac.uk, who will notify and work with the ORI to ensure that procedures to deal with these research misconduct allegations are followed consistently with US federal regulations.
Whistleblowing
The University is committed to the highest standards of openness, probity and accountability. It seeks to conduct its affairs in a responsible manner taking into account the requirements of the funding bodies and the standards in public life set out in the reports of the Nolan Committee. An important aspect of this commitment is the availability of a mechanism whereby staff may voice concerns in a responsible and effective manner. The UEA Council has approved a Whistleblowing Policy (officially known as Public Interest Disclosure) so that when an individual discovers information which they believe to show malpractice/wrong doing within the University, this information may be disclosed (if necessary independently of line management) without fear of reprisal.
The University’s Whistleblowing Policy and the University’s Procedures for Dealing with Allegations of Misconduct in Research complement one another. The University’s Procedures for Dealing with Allegations of Misconduct in Research are followed for allegations of research misconduct received through the University’s Whistleblowing Policy. The Procedures are analogous with the University’s Whistleblowing Policy, tailored explicitly for research misconduct.