The concordat aims to create stronger ties with the public across all disciplines in the higher education sector. It sets out clear expectations for research organisations and, research managers, and supports researchers themselves to strengthen existing good practice in public engagement by ensuring that it’s valued, recognised and supported.
This will enhance the future of research to benefit the UK society and economy.
We commit to
- ensuring the University has a strategic commitment to public engagement
- ensuring that researchers are recognised and valued for their involvement with public engagement activities
- ensuring that researchers are enabled to participate in public engagement activities through appropriate training, support and opportunities
- undertaking regular reviews of researchers' and the wider research sector’s progress in fostering public engagement across the UK
What is public engagement?
The National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement defines public engagement as
“The myriad of ways in which the activity and benefits of higher education and research can be shared with the public. Engagement is by definition a two-way process, involving interaction and listening, with the goal of generating mutual benefit.”
The concordat describes the diversity of these activities to include
- participating in festivals
- working with museums/galleries/science centres and other cultural venues
- creating opportunities for the public to inform the research questions being tackled
- researchers and public working together to inform policy
- presenting to the public (e.g. public lectures or talks)
- involving the public as researchers (e.g. web-based experiments)
- engaging with young people to inspire them about research (e.g. workshops in schools)
- contributing to new media enabled discussion forums
Further information
Read the Concordat for Engaging the Public with Research
RCUK (Research Councils UK)
For any enquiries or further information, please contact our research governance experts.
The concordat sets out what is expected of researchers, their employers and the funders involved in research to ensure good practice and research of the highest standards. It was devised by the UK Government in collaboration with Universities UK and Wellcome Trust, with other key stakeholders.
We commit to
- maintaining the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research
- ensuring that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards
- supporting a research environment that is underpinned by a culture of integrity and based on good governance, best practice and support for the development of researchers
- using transparent, robust and fair processes to deal with allegations of research misconduct should they arise
- working together to strengthen the integrity of research and to reviewing progress regularly and openly
Signatories
- Department for Employment and Learning
- Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
- Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
- Research Councils UK (RCUK)
- Scottish Funding Council
- Universities UK (UUK)
- Wellcome Trust
Supporters
- Academy of Medical Sciences
- Association of Research Managers and Administrators
- British Medical Journal
- Council of University Classical Departments
- CREST: Consortium for Research Excellence, Support and Training
- Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
- Government Office for Science Medical Schools Council
- Royal Musical Association
- UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO)
Further information
Read the concordat to Support Research Integrity
Research action plan 2016-18
UKRIO (UK Research Integrity Office) concordat support
Annual Statement of Research Integrity
For any enquiries or further information, please contact our research governance experts.
The concordat provides a clear set of principles for the future support and management of research careers and how to embed them into practice.
We’re delighted to announce that the University of Hull has signed the revised Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers - commonly known as the Researcher Development Concordat - joining 30 other organisations and institutions across the UK. Chair of the University’s Concordat Steering Group, Professor Iain Brennan, comments: “By signing the Researcher Development Concordat, we are committing to producing an action plan which includes strategic objectives, measures of success, and an implementation plan against which progress can be measured. We will also be making an annual report to our Governing Body. As a signatory, we will play a vital role in engaging with systemic challenges, including ways to provide more security of employment for researchers and flexible criteria for maternity and paternity benefits.” The Concordat, as first published in 2008, provides a framework to support the career development of researchers in UK universities and research institutes. In 2017, the Concordat Strategy Group announced an independent ten-year review to evaluate the progress made in implementing the principles and provide recommendations on the future role, content and governance of the Concordat. As a result, a new Researcher Development Concordat was published in September 2019.
HR Excellence in Research
The University of Hull has been recognised with a HR Excellence in Research badge for our commitment to supporting and developing our researchers.
Further information
Read the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers: 2008 | 2019
Action plans
Annual Report for the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers
2020-22: report | progress review | updated action plan 2022-24
2018-20: action plan | case study | review | summary of progress
2016-18: action plan | report | review
2014-15: action plan | updated action plan | commentary
2012: action plan | commentary
For any enquiries or further information, please contact our research governance experts.
There are many reasons why animals are used is research. They help further our understanding of biology, provide models to study disease which leads on to the development of potential cures and treatments, and also help us in the protection of humans, animals and the natural environment. As scientific advancements continue we are more frequently able to use alternatives to animals for parts of our research using methods such as cell or tissue culture and computer modelling, however no alternative method has yet been developed which allows animals to be fully substituted for the complex biological characteristics of man and animals. For example to study high blood pressure hearts and blood vessels are required, and while some aspects of arthritis can be studies using alternative methods a full understanding requires bones and joints. The University of Hull uses many different strategies, models, methods, and technologies for biomedical research however in some cases, when all attempts to find alternative methods have been exhausted animal models are sometimes used to support and expand our knowledge in crucial areas of research.
If and when animals are to be used in research the University of Hull is committed to developing and proactively maintaining a thorough and objective process of ethical review that requires researchers to justify any animal use and maximise animal welfare.
Download the statement on research involving animals.