Terms of Reference
The Research Integrity Committee (RIC) is a formally constituted Sub-Committee of the University Research Committee (URC). The Committee is responsible, within the University’s governance framework, for the promotion of research excellence by and driving the principles developed for responsible research conduct that provides a foundation for high-quality research, credibility and community trust in the research profession as required by the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (the “Code”). The Legal and Operational Framework for Research Integrity at UOW (PDF) guideline lists other legislation and codes that apply.
Responsibilities
The RIC will drive a culture of responsible conduct of research as an integral part of all research behaviours, to promote research excellence at UOW.
The RIC will:
- Actively promote the responsible conduct of research and ensure that UOW has the policies and processes in place to meet the requirements of the Code. The RIC will assist in the development and review of key research policies and provide advice to the URC.
- Actively promote and monitor compliance with appropriate legislation and codes governing research integrity including monitoring UOW policies, procedures and guidelines in response to new or changed legislation and implementing appropriate compliance programs.
- Actively engage in the planning, implementation and monitoring of educational and training programs as well as other resources to ensure University staff, students and affiliated researchers are aware of compliance and accountability requirements related to the Code and other legislation impacting on the responsible conduct of research.
- Actively provide advice and guidance on all UOW research integrity related processes such as ethics and research misconduct, including: identifying ways to streamline processes and forms between systems, continuous improvement of legislative compliance programs and reviewing anonymised allegations or aggregated data on research misconduct in order to identify common issues and develop mechanisms to prevent reoccurrence.
This RIC will provide coherence to research integrity activities and effectively create links between relevant areas within the University. The Committee will therefore also serve as an advisory body on research-related integrity matters to other UOW operational committees (See Legal and Operational Framework for Research Integrity at UOW (PDF)).
Membership
The RIC shall consist of:
- Dean of Researcher Development and Integrity, or a senior academic appointed by the DVC(R&I) (Chair)
- Dean of Graduate Research (or nominee)
- Associate Dean, Research (or nominee) from each Faculty
- Research Integrity Advisor Network representative *
- Director, Research Services Office (or nominee)
- Director, Governance Unit (or nominee)
- Associate Director, Research Integrity and Ethics (or nominee)
- HDR Student representative *
- Chair, UOW/ISLHD Human Research Ethics Committee (Health & Medical)
- Chair, UOW/ISLHD Human Research Ethics Committee (Social Sciences)
- Chair, Animal Ethics Committee
- Chair, Institutional Biosafety Committee
- Up to three (3) additional academic staff members * may be appointed by the Chair
- Executive Officer: Research Integrity Officer, Research Integrity and Ethics.
* Positions not filled ex officio have a term of two (2) years and will be appointed by the Chair.
The Chair may choose to invite experts to the meeting to provide advice to the Committee.
Both genders are to be represented on the RIC sub-committees, and if necessary additional members will be co-opted to meet this requirement.
Current RIC members
Role/position |
Current member/s |
Dean of Researcher Development and Integrity, or a senior academic appointed by the DVC(R&I) (Chair)
|
Professor Susan Thomas |
Dean of Graduate Research (or nominee) |
Professor Simon Moss |
Associate Deans (Research) (or nominee) |
- Professor Peter Innis (Interim), Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM)
- Senior Professor Michael Lerch, Faculty of Engineering & Information Sciences (EIS)
- Professor Shahriar Akter, Faculty of Business and Law (BAL)
- Professor Heath Ecroyd, Faculty of Science, Medicine & Health (SMAH)
- Professor Peter Kelly, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (ASSH)
|
Research Integrity Advisor Network Representative * |
Dr Natalia Hanley |
Director, Research Services Office (or nominee) |
Ms Sharon Martin |
Director, Governance Unit (or nominee) |
Ms Sunny Skipp |
Associate Director, Research Integrity and Ethics
|
Ms Eve Steinke |
Higher Degree Research (HDR) Student Representative * |
Ms Lisa Kilgariff |
Chair, UOW/ISLHD Human Research Ethics Committee (Health & Medical) |
Professor Mirella Dottori |
Chair, UOW/ISLHD Human Research Ethics Committee (Social Sciences) |
Associate Professor Natascha Klocker |
Chair, Animal Ethics Committee |
Dr Malcolm France |
Chair, Institutional Biosafety Committee |
Ms Katie Cicero (nominee) |
Up to three (3) additional academic staff members * may be appointed by the DVC(R&I) |
- Professor Attila Mozer
- Professor Maria Mackay
- Vacant
|
In Attendance |
- Executive Officer: Mrs Ryah Perkiss, Research Integrity Officer
- Minutes Secretary: Ms Tanya Barton-Saad
|
Quorum
The Committee shall have a quorum which is equal to one half or, where one half is not a whole number, the whole number next higher to one half of the total number of members of the Committee.
The total number of members, for the purposes of the quorum, shall exclude the Chairs of the Ethics (Human and Animal) and Institutional Biosafety Committee.
Meeting frequency
The RIC will meet at least four (4) times per year.
The Committee may also establish working parties for specific projects. Expert advisors and appointees to working parties do not need to be permanent members of the Committee. Working parties shall report to the Committee.
RIC sub-committees
The following Sub-Committees support the RIC:
- Human Research Ethics Committee (Health and Medical);
- Human Research Ethics Committee (Social Sciences);
- Animal Ethics Committee;
- Institutional Biosafety Committee.
2024 meetings
Agenda Deadline
|
Meeting Date
|
Friday, 19 January, 2024
|
Friday, 2 February, 2024, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
|
Wednesday, 10 April, 2024
|
Wednesday, 24 April, 2024, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
|
Friday, 28 June, 2024
|
Friday, 12 July, 2024, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
|
Wednesday, 18 September, 2024
|
Wednesday, 2 October, 2024, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
|
Friday, 8 November, 2024
|
Friday, 22 November, 2024, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
|
Agenda deadlines are the dates by which items and papers must be received by the uow-researchintegrity@uow.edu.au.