Annual statement on Research Integrity 2024/25

Introduction

De Montfort University (DMU) has a responsibility to ensure that all research conducted under its auspices is conducted ethically, responsibly and with integrity. DMU is a signatory of the UK Concordat to Support Research Integrity, and part of the commitments made as a result is to publish an annual report concerning how the institution meets those responsibilities.

UKRIO Self-Assessment Tool Outcomes Progress

In the 2023/24 Annual Statement on Research Integrity, we presented the outcome of our completion of the UKRIO Self-Assessment Tool. The outcome showed a positive outlook for our research ethics and integrity systems at the institution, but there is always room for improvement, and the university is committed to meeting the highest standards of research integrity. Here we will present the progress across three key areas: Policies and Systems, Communication and Culture Development and Leadership.

Policies and Systems

Our assessment in 23/24 noted a strong array of policies to support researchers facing many ethical and integrity challenges in their work, but it noted that specific support for colleagues conducting research in collaboration with the NHS would be needed. In 2024/25, DMU research governance has developed a set of tools to support the DMU NHS research remit, including a comprehensive guide for progressing through the HRA submission process with IRAS, applying for ethical approval from an NHS ethics committee and obtaining sponsorship approval from DMU. These resources are made available to colleagues via the internal Worktribe platform.

Additionally, DMU continues to develop stronger ties to local NHS trusts via quarterly meetings between research governance and University Hospitals of Leicester R&D staff.

Communication

Our 2023/24 review noted a strong online presence for ethics both at a faculty and university level, though research governance could take a more active role in responding to and disseminating advice from external sources such as the UKRIO. A key example of this in practice across 2024/25 is the incorporation of the UKRIO advice on destigmatising the investigation of research misconduct, which involved collaboration with key stakeholders across the institution, dissemination to colleagues in every faculty, and its publication on the website.

Culture Development and Leadership

The 2023/24 assessment identified a strong committee and leadership structure, with transparent reporting lines, policy development and approval pathways and the pivotal role of the University Research and Enterprise Ethics Committee. The assessment also identified the end of the 2018-2023 Research Strategy as a critical moment in the research culture of the institution, and the importance of the development of a new strategy.

A stand-alone strategy document equivalent to the 2018-23 strategy document is not available, but a comprehensive overall “Empowering University” strategy is available, of which Knowledge Creation comprises one of the key pillars:

“We believe that a diverse range of researchers produces the best research. Societal impact will be central to our research agenda and we will strive to ensure that our research addresses key challenges.”

View more information on Knowledge Creation.

Policies and systems, Communication, and Culture development and leadership remain critical facets of the DMU research ecosystem, and we expect to continue to assess the efficacy of our development in these key areas as we move into the new academic year.

Research Integrity Initiatives, Events, and Improvements

Research Integrity and Misconduct Investigation Procedure

We continually review and improve policies and procedures which support our researchers to conduct their work responsibly, ethically and with integrity. Researchers should feel empowered to raise concerns around research activity if they feel that it falls short of research integrity expectations. During the latter half of the 24/25 academic year, research governance developed and deployed a substantial update to the research misconduct investigation procedure to bring the document up to date with our goals for the research culture at the university and to ensure parity with UKRIO guidelines on destigmatising the process of research misconduct investigation.

Although the procedure has undergone annual review, no substantial revisions were made since its publication in 2016. A comprehensive update has now been undertaken to align the document with contemporary debates, current terminology, and modern expectations of research integrity processes.

The principal updates include the following:

Destigmatisation of the Process

We have revised the terminology to reduce adversarial framing. The term complainant has been replaced with initiator, as the former implies an oppositional relationship with the respondent and carries unnecessary negative connotations. The updated terminology more accurately reflects the intended nature of the process.

Similarly, references to misconduct have been replaced with breaches of research integrity in the initial stages of the procedure. Only once the screening stage establishes prima facie evidence of research misconduct does the terminology revert to misconduct.

Reframing the Purpose Around Research Integrity

The previous version focused exclusively on determining whether misconduct had occurred. However, an allegation of misconduct is only formally raised after the screening stage. Prior to that point, a range of actions may be taken that do not involve disciplinary proceedings, such as training or the withdrawal of problematic material.

The revised procedure foregrounds this broader purpose, emphasising that the process is not inherently punitive but is designed to correct actions that breach good research practice. Only more serious breaches progress to formal misconduct investigations.

This reframing is intended to make activation of the procedure less daunting, highlighting the availability of informal resolutions, which, in practice, are frequently the outcome.

Enhancing Clarity and Usability

The entire research integrity and misconduct investigation process has been visualised using workflow diagrams to provide clear guidance on each stage and its expected timeframe. Finally, the full document has been reviewed for clarity, conciseness, and coherence.

Artificial Intelligence

The 2024/25 academic year saw the opportunity and challenge of artificial intelligence tools really start to crystallise at DMU. Researchers at all levels, from undergraduates through to experienced senior academics, were all looking for guidance about how to assess, use and manage these powerful and divisive new tools.

At the end of the academic year in 2025 DMU published its General Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools Policy (2025). The policy recognises the benefits of AI in improving productivity, efficiency and the staff and student experience, while ensuring that associated risks are appropriately managed. It applies to staff, governors, contractors, work-placement students, and overseas operations, covering the procurement, development, deployment, and use of AI technologies.

The policy promotes innovation while setting clear expectations for the secure use of AI and it emphasises the protection of university data, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and the importance of maintaining human knowledge and oversight. Staff are prohibited from entering personal, confidential, or commercially sensitive information into publicly available AI tools and are required to follow relevant university guidance and governance processes such as the DMU data protection guidance, and the university Research Ethic Code of Practice.

A core feature of the policy is its commitment to responsible AI principles, such as legality, fairness, accountability, transparency, and contestability. The policy requires human oversight of AI-assisted decision-making, consideration of potential bias and equality impacts, and clear disclosure where AI has contributed to content or outcomes. Responsibility for decisions remains with accountable individuals rather than AI systems.

The policy supports the university's wider objectives in research, teaching, professional services, and digital transformation by encouraging the development of AI capability across the institution. It includes provisions for regular monitoring and review to ensure it remains responsive to technological developments, regulatory change, and emerging best practice, while also supporting the university's commitments to equality, inclusion, and sustainability. The policy is only currently available on the internal intranet, and so not publicly accessible.

Trusted Research and Research Security

Across 2024/25 we sought to build on the work conducted in 2023/24 to establish our Research Security policies and processes. We conducted a scoping exercise to understand the DMU research portfolio from a research security perspective and from that we have a better understanding of the scale of the work required to ensure that the institution remains compliant with trusted research and research security guidelines.

We established logs of research security relevant activity at the university, initiated several expert control notifications, and introduced training for researchers and research support staff to enhance this area of work.

Worktribe

Worktribe is still a crucial tool in ensuring that our ethics review processes are effective, transparent, and rigorous. All undergraduate and post-graduate student research, as well as all staff research ethics, continues to be managed through the Worktribe systems.

In addition, research governance staff at DMU have connected with other institutions in advance of their adoption of Worktribe as a research management system, to advise them, share knowledge and experience, and support their adoption of the platform.

Reflecting on Progress

The 2024/25 academic year saw steady, purposeful development across DMU’s research integrity and ethics infrastructure. Work focused on identifying areas where processes required clarification or modernisation, and on implementing changes that strengthen consistency and support researchers more effectively.

The introduction of new Standard Operating Procedures provided an opportunity to review core workflows, improve systematisation, and ensure that institutional knowledge is captured and maintained. Alongside these developments, DMU refined key procedural elements to ensure that its research integrity framework remains clear, contemporary, and supportive.

The update to the Research Integrity and Misconduct Investigation Procedure, and in particular the shift toward less adversarial terminology and clearer early-stage pathways, helps make the process more accessible and better aligned with current UKRIO guidance.

Combined with strengthened communication practices, continued collaboration with NHS partners, and sustained investment in systems like Worktribe, these improvements contribute to a more coherent and resilient research integrity environment that will support further progress in the years ahead.

Allegations of Breaches of Research Integrity or Research Misconduct

DMU has in place a Research Integrity and Misconduct Investigation Procedure which sets out a procedure for concerns regarding research practice to be investigated in a fair, objective, and confidential manner, by implementation of a three-stage process: (i) preliminary consideration, (ii) screening and (iii) formal investigation.

Informal resolution (without the need for formal investigation) may be right for allegations that are not considered of a serious nature. This document clearly says that:

“Allegations of research misconduct are potentially serious both for the university and the Respondent and such allegations will be investigated fairly, objectively, confidentially and in accordance with the principles of natural justice.” (section 2.1).

Staff Cases

No staff cases of research misconduct were reported during the 2024/2025 academic year.

Research Student Cases

No research student cases were reported during the 2024/2025 academic year.

With the updates to the Research Integrity and Misconduct Investigation Procedure developed and published in the 2024-25 academic year, staff and students at DMU have an up-to-date procedure to follow to raise any concerns relating to research activity at the university.

Author: William Knight – Research Ethics and Integrity Officer

Reviewed by: Donna Bentley – Research Governance Manager

Endorsed by DMU University Research, Business and Innovation Committee (URBIC) 25/09/26