Supplementary written evidence submitted
by Professor Ian A Walmsley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research, Academic
Services and University Collections), University of Oxford (PR
73a)
Please find appended responses to the Committee's
questions:
1. The University has published guidelines on
its research integrity website (http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/rso/integrity/)
about good practice in publication and authorship (http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/researchsupport/integrity/publication/)
and peer review (http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/researchsupport/integrity/peerreview/).
This website also provides information about related training
(both online and "in-person") available through the
University's Research Skills tool-kit to all Oxford staff and
students (https://weblearn.ox.ac.uk/portal/hierarchy/skills/res_skil_kit)
and other related resources (eg from the US Office of Research
Integrity at http://ori.dhhs.gov/education/products/). The University
runs an annual series of research integrity seminars delivered
by a range of high-profile and internationally renowned speakers
(details of previous series, including visual presentations and
audio podcasts of the lectures is available at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/researchsupport/training/integrity/archive/).
Extensive online advice for undergraduate and graduate students
about good academic practice, is available from http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/edc/goodpractice/
, which includes detailed information and online training about
the seriousness of plagiarism, why this should be avoided, and
the University's procedures in cases of suspected plagiarism (http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/edc/goodpractice/about/).
2. The University's "Academic Integrity
in Research: Code of Practice and Procedure" is available
at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/staff/codes/air.shtml and sets
out the "University" standards for research conducted
by its staff, students and anyone working on University premises
or using University facilities. It also defines misconduct in
research for the purpose of the Code and sets out the University's
procedures for responding to and investigating allegations of
misconduct in research. Such allegations are always taken seriously
and there are rigorous procedures for investigating any alleged
offence. The responsibility for investigating these matters lies
with the University's most senior officers (in the case of staff
members, this is the Registrar; for students, this is the Proctors'
Office).
Although the details of such allegations or enquiries
are not made publicly available, the University regularly reports
externally on allegations and cases of research misconduct, for
example to the UK Research Integrity Office, to the US Office
of Research Integrity and to Research Councils UK. Where the research
in question involves a third party, for example an external funder
of research such as the Medical Research Council or the Wellcome
Trust, the University is careful to ensure that the third party
is kept closely informed of how the case is handled and the outcome
of any investigation.
June 2011
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