Research Practice Sub Committee
A partnership of academics and professional services
Research Practice Subcommittee provides University-level oversight to ensure that the highest standards of practice are enabled in how research is designed, planned, executed, and reported; to drive innovation and sector leadership; and to participate in national and international initiatives and debates.
The Subcommittee has been established to acknowledge and address the growing complexity and pace of change in how research is conducted, the level of overlap and synergy between individual domains of activity, and the high level of interest in Research Practice from regulators, funders, and our research community.
Operationally, the domains of activity covered by the Subcommittee are grouped into the following five areas: Integrity and Ethics; FAIR Data Management and Sharing; Reproducibility and Methods; Engagement and Impact; and Publishing, Authorship, and Peer Review. The remit of the Subcommittee encompasses all digital objects that are generated across the research life cycle (e.g. publications, datasets, software, any digital materials).
Comprising both academic staff and professional services, the Subcommittee ensures optimal support for members of the research community (referred to hereafter as the “user”) by applying the following three dimensions to all Research Practice domains:
- Provision of policy and guidelines (formal documents and informational websites)
- Digital infrastructure (tools, services and related projects: the service catalogue), and
- Enabling mechanisms (training and expertise)
The Subcommittee will:
Provide leadership in the development and regular refresh of policy and guidance, digital infrastructure, and enabling mechanisms required to support the Research Practice lifecycle; the remit thus covers both the systems and technologies required for achieving the highest standards of Research Practice and the configuration of expertise and skills necessary to support that aim
Contribute to the programme of work to strengthen Research Culture across the collegiate University as this relates to the Research Practice Programme, by ensuring that the research community is incentivised, supported, and rewarded to follow best practice
Continuously review the coverage and quality of the portfolio of digital (‘the Service Catalogue’), training and other services which support the Research Practice lifecycle. Work in concert with relevant (sub)committees and service functions on service planning, development, and benefits realisation.
Work with relevant service functions to ensure efficient and effective compliance with: funder and legal requirements, and institutional policies, statements, and Concordat commitments related to Research Practice (e.g. GDPR, Open Access, FAIR and Open Research)
Identify and champion innovations in ways of working that serve to improve Research Practice, considering differing priorities and practice across disciplines
Show sector leadership by collaborating with relevant national and international organisations, and contribute to sector innovations, debates, and resources
Ensure that service provision is user-centric, via clear, simple and easy-to-use guidance
Ensure that service leads have effective mechanisms in place to ensure consultation with and monitoring of service performance from their user communities, assisted by Academic Division Representatives
Review these terms of reference each MT, recommending any changes to Research Portfolio Committee. [An initial review shall take place no later than TT25.]
Approve working groups, communities of practice, or other delivery mechanisms identified by the Service Lead(s) of Domains, or other members, as necessary to fulfil its terms of reference effectively
Maintain a Risk Register for activities in the remit of the Subcommittee
Provide regular reports to Research and Innovation Committee and to Research Portfolio Committee, as appropriate.
Research Practice Sub Committee Members 2024-25
Role | Name | Delegate |
Members |
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Chair (Academic Lead of Research Culture - Research Practice) | n/a | |
Co-Chair - Director, Research Strategy and Policy Unit | Dr Tanita Casci | n/a |
Two Academic Division Representatives (from each of the main academic divisions; representatives may be drawn from any staff group) |
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Medical Sciences | Prof Leanne Hodson |
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| Dr Mary Muers |
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Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences | Prof. Dermot O’Hare |
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| Martin Edmunds |
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Social Sciences | Dr Sam Sneddon |
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| Prof. Louise Slater |
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Humanities | Prof. Martin Conway |
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| Dr Michele Warren |
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Chair, Research Computing Subcommittee | Prof. Brian Marsden |
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Institutional Service Leads for Domains |
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Integrity and Ethics | TBC |
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Reproducibility and Methods | Dr Sarah Callaghan |
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Publishing, Authorship, and Peer Review | Ruth Mallalieu | Chris Morrison |
Engagement and Impact | Dr Matthew Hickman |
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FAIR Data Management and Sharing |
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| Rowan Wilson |
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| Dan Crane |
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One member from the Bodleian Libraries | Amy Warner May |
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Secretary | Dr Sarah Callaghan |
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Co-opted Members (invited based on agenda) |
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Representation from specialist functions e.g. Information Compliance, Ethics, Trusted Research | Dr Ivona Spill (Trusted Research) Dr Ferdousi Chowdhury (Ethics/CUREC) James Bristow (Information Compliance) Rhiannon Meaden (OUP) Brian Jenkins (Health and Safety) |
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Representation from other RIC/RPC Subcommittees | As required |
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The Subcommittee has dual reporting to Research and Innovation Committee and Research Portfolio Committee. Specifically, matters relating to policy and guidelines report directly to Research and Innovation Committee, without going via Research Portfolio Committee. Developments relating to digital infrastructure report via Research Portfolio Committee. Where either policy and guidelines, or enabling mechanisms, have a digital requirement, these report to Research Portfolio Committee.
The Subcommittee evolves and extends the remit of groups and committees at Oxford that previously oversaw individual domains of Research Practice: Open Access Steering Group, Research Practice Group, Research Data Management Steering Group, and Research Data Management Delivery Group.
Relationship with related committees
A small number of Research Practice domains are already well served by other governance structures; for example, ethics, information compliance, animal research, trusted research. The Subcommittee aims to complement the work of these existing committees, including: Knowledge Exchange and Impact Sub-Committee (KEISC) and the Central University Research Ethics Committee (CUREC).
The role of the Subcommittee with respect to these domains is one of coordination, by ensuring that requirements for investment in or sponsorship of digital investment can be realised; that synergies or dependencies with development and update of policy and guidelines are managed; and/or enabling mechanisms are considered.