Research Cultures Action & Delivery Plan
The University is committed to fostering an environment in which research, researchers, and those that enable research, can thrive.
Research sits at the core of the University’s mission. It forms one of the four pillars in our Strategy 2030 and we use research to advance knowledge and change the world for the better. Our ability to deliver excellent research depends on our research cultures. Our research cultures are built on the values, expectations and behaviours that shape how we support, deliver and communicate our research. It’s our responsibility as an institution, and as individuals, to foster cultures where researchers are encouraged, supported and recognised appropriately.
Our first Research Cultures Action Plan was agreed by University Executive in February 2023. Highlights of the plan include measures on recognising collegiality and citizenship in annual review and promotions, more targeted support for under-represented groups, and an ambitious plan for supporting our technician community.
Through this action plan, we want to ensure our research is conducted in a collegial, supportive and enabling environment, which facilitates rigorous and responsible research.
While the University of Edinburgh already has a wide range of fantastic initiatives in place, this plan provides a much-needed framework for bringing together these strands, and addressing key gaps – for example around rewarding collegiality, enhancing leadership and recognition of our technicians and professional support colleagues, and addressing barriers to equality and diversity in research careers.
Research Cultures Action Plan
The University’s Research Cultures Action Plan realises our commitment to foster an environment where research, researchers, and those who support them, can thrive.
| 5 Underpinning Values | 5 Drivers for Change |
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The Action Plan is underpinned by a set of core values that guide all our research activities:
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The Action Plan aims to realise these values through practical measures across several drivers for change:
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The research community addressed in the Action Plan encompasses all those involved in research, from undergraduates gaining their first experience of research to established academics leading in their field and those providing the services and support that enable a flourishing research environment.
Research Cultures Action Plan 2023-25 (424 KB PDF)
Research Cultures Delivery Plan
The Research Cultures Delivery Plan was developed over the summer of 2023 by a short-life working group tasked with elaborating the actions set out in the Research Cultures Action Plan. Specifically, the Delivery Plan:
- describes the specific measures that will be taken to deliver each of the 41 actions set out in the Action Plan;
- clarifies the timeframe for their delivery;
- establishes which parts of the organisation are responsible for delivery.
Research Cultures Delivery Plan 2023-25 (2.2 MB PDF)
Postgraduate Research Cultures Plan
The Doctoral College are developing a Postgraduate Research (PGR) Cultures Plan building on the PGR actions outlined in the Action and Delivery Plans above. The group aims to have this approved by Research Strategy Group by July 2024.
Research Cultures Delivery Group
The Research Cultures Delivery Group (RCDG) is chaired by Alex Peden, as the Head of Research Cultures, and is tasked with the delivery of the Research Cultures Action and Delivery Plan and Postgraduate Research Cultures Plan. Updates on progress on the delivery of the action plan are available via the committee site below.
Research Cultures Survey
In both 2020 and 2022 University of Edinburgh ran a Research Cultures Survey based on the 2019 Wellcome Survey of Institutional Research Culture. The survey was deployed via a web form to University of Edinburgh research professional staff, academic staff, research staff, technicians and doctoral research students The survey results inform our research cultures work and also provide information which will allow refinement of the questions needed in future surveys. We plan to continue to refine the survey questions set so they are increasingly relevant to the UoE context and issue a research cultures survey every 2 years, with the 2024 survey opening in September 2024.
- 2020 Survey Results | BI Suite [Your University Login Required]
- Methodology, analysis and results of University of Edinburgh Research Cultures Survey 2020 and 2022 | Open Science Framework
- Information about Open Science Framework, an open research tool
Staff Engagement Survey
The University undertook its first all staff survey in 2018, the survey was repeated in 2023. The results of both surveys are linked below and fed into the development of our Research Cultures plans.
- Staff Engagement Survey 2023 Results [Your University Login Required]
- Staff Engagement Survey 2018 Results [Your University Login Required]