Research Integrity and Responsible Research Assessment
Research integrity at Ravensbourne
We are committed to research that is trustworthy, ethical and responsible. Ravensbourne University adheres to the Concordat to Support Research Integrity 2025, the UK framework for good research conduct, and we apply the same high standards to every form of research we undertake, from artificial intelligence, computing and business to design, fashion, architecture, film and the creative industries.
Our principles
All research at Ravensbourne is guided by the five principles of the Concordat.
- Honesty in how we propose, carry out and report research
- Rigour in our methods, our data and our conclusions
- Transparency and open communication about methods, interests, funding and the tools we use, including AI
- Care and respect for everyone involved in or affected by research
- Accountability for our own conduct and the research we lead
What we expect of researchers
Everyone who conducts research on behalf of or in association with Ravensbourne, including staff, students, visiting researchers and partners, is expected to obtain ethical approval before research begins, manage data securely and lawfully, declare interests and funding, credit others fairly, use AI responsibly and transparently and be open when mistakes happen.
How we support researchers
The Knowledge Exchange and Research Office provides ethics review, guidance and training for researchers at every career stage, overseen by the Knowledge Exchange and Research Committee.
Raising a concern
If you have a concern about the integrity of research at Ravensbourne, please raise it. Concerns are handled in confidence, fairly and promptly, and anyone raising a concern in good faith is protected from detriment.
Contacts
| Role | Contact |
|---|---|
| Senior member of staff with oversight of research integrity | Professor Shaun Borstrock, Head of Knowledge Exchange and Research, [email protected] |
| First point of contact for research integrity | Professor Shaun Borstrock, Head of Knowledge Exchange and Research, [email protected] |
| Confidential liaison for raising concerns | Holly Duglan, Registrar, [email protected] |
You can also raise a concern through our Whistleblowing Policy.
Annual statements on research integrity
Each year we publish a statement, approved by our governing body, reporting on how we support research integrity and on any investigations of research misconduct.
Related policies
Responsible research assessment
We believe research should be judged on its quality and contribution, not on where it is published or how many times it is cited. Ravensbourne endorses the principles of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and intends to become a signatory.
Our research ranges across the worlds of creativity, business and technology and it takes many forms. Our approach to assessment is designed to recognise all of it fairly.
Our commitments
- We assess the work, not the venue - each output is judged on its own merits.
- We value every kind of output - from journal articles, books and datasets to software, films, exhibitions, designs and prototypes.
- We use metrics with care - They can inform judgement but never replace it.
- We recognise contribution - within collaborative and interdisciplinary work.
- We acknowledge impact beyond academia - for industry, communities, culture and society.
- We assess fairly - taking account of career stage, part time working, caring responsibilities, disability, illness and career breaks.
- We recognise the whole researcher - including teaching, supervision, knowledge exchange, mentoring and leadership.
What we do not do
We do not use journal impact factors, publication counts, grant income alone or citation counts without context to judge the quality of research or researchers. We do not use generative AI to judge research or people.
Where this applies
These principles apply to recruitment, promotion, research funding, research time, REF 2029, supervision, knowledge exchange and performance review.
Questions or concerns
If you believe research has been assessed in a way that does not follow these principles, contact Professor Shaun Borstrock at [email protected], or raise it in confidence with Holly Duglan, Registrar, at [email protected].
