What is research culture and how are we supporting it?

On 20th June 2024, Leeds University Business School held its annual research conference at Cloth Hall Court in Leeds city centre.

This year’s programme included a session on enhancing research culture to achieve research excellence. As part of the session, Professor Mark Stuart, Pro-Dean of Research and Innovation, gave an overview of current research culture in higher education, at the University of Leeds, and in Leeds University Business School.

Research culture in Higher Education

Research culture has become a more central priority in recent years. This is evidenced in different ways:

First, as part of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029, the evaluation of research “Environment” has been relabelled as “People, Culture and Environment”, with an increased weighting from 15 per cent to 25 per cent. This shift in emphasis reflects the growing acknowledgement that a positive and inclusive research culture is essential for producing world-class quality outputs.

Second, funding bodies are putting an increased emphasis on research culture. There is a bigger emphasis on factors such as values and expectations within research teams, the quality of the research environment, inclusion practices, and opportunities for career development.

Third, many universities are embedding research culture into their core purpose statements. These statements are now more likely to highlight the importance of values such as integrity, collaboration, and trust. This shift indicates a growing consensus that fostering a supportive and ethical research culture is not just beneficial for individual researchers, but essential for the institution’s overall mission and success.

Research culture at the University of Leeds

At the University, we define research culture as “the environment in which research and innovation happens, and how that environment impacts all those involved. It includes the ways that we collaborate, communicate, and interact with each other; the behaviours, attitudes, and values that shape how our research is developed, conducted, and used; and the mechanisms that recognise and reward our work.”

As part of the University’s commitment to research culture, Professor Cat Davies was appointed Dean for Research Culture in 2021, and, along with the Research Culture team, has developed a research culture strategic plan to ensure the University has a supportive, diverse and ambitious research culture. The plan focuses on four strategic objectives:

1. We will value diverse forms of research activity, expanding traditional definitions of success in terms of innovative methods and outputs etc
2. We will embed equality, diversity and inclusion principles in research practices, from design through to recruitment and delivery
3. We will enable open research practices, striving for collaborative working, sharing, and openness throughout the entire research cycle, enabling transparency, reproducibility and reducing inequalities whilst maximising the reach of our research
4. We will mutually support and develop research teams, recognising those that are involved in all aspects of the research activity, process and outputs.

These strategic objectives, alongside centralised projects, support our overall aim of enabling more University of Leeds colleagues to produce excellent research inclusively, equitably, openly and supportively.

Research culture at Leeds University Business School

Leeds University Business School has put various support structures and initiatives in place to create and sustain an environment that fosters research excellence. This includes:

• Dedicated workload for research-related activities
• Internal schemes to help support research activities (e.g. funding for conferences, grant applications, publication, impact and engagement, and study leave)
• Facilities and resources, including the Research Data Centre (which offers a wide range of comprehensive databases) and the Behavioural Lab (a purpose-built research facility capable of hosting behavioural research designs and experimental methods)
• Support from our well-resourced Research and Innovation Office that covers: training and development; communications and dissemination; impact and engagement; policy; pre- and post-award; international collaboration; and more
• An extensive training and professional development programme for all career stages, with facilitated writing retreats, advanced-level training including workshops and seminars on methodology and specialist subjects, national and international training networks, and events and seminars with globally recognised academics
• Early career development, including through our Post Doctoral Fellowship scheme that enables top performing postgraduate researchers to convert to a postdoctoral research role for two years, bridging the gap between doctoral studies and full-time academic roles
• Our mentors provide one-to-one support on learning and development, and advice on progressing research agendas, career pathways and networking
• Formal and informal collaborations with access to our Professors of Research Impact, advisory boards and our network of alumni, business practitioners and thought-leaders
• Vibrant research centres that act as conduits of collaboration, bringing together a critical mass of research expertise that connects knowledge with user communities, promotes impact, and provides a stimulating and supportive environment for members. Our research centres are committed to inter-disciplinary and internationally focused research, helping tackle global challenges
• Reward and recognition through initiatives such as our publication scheme and internal awards, complementing institutional-level schemes
• Regular evaluation of our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) outcomes underpinned by targeted supports, such as reduced teaching allocation for those returning from maternity leave.

Acknowledging all aspects of research culture

During one of the afternoon sessions at the conference, we listened to colleagues discuss the highs and lows of their research journeys. As part of our research culture, we recognise that is important to acknowledge the rough as well as the smooth; and ensure that colleagues know they can ask for help when needed. Read the blog post [will insert hyperlink once published] to find out more about some of the highs and lows in research.

To conclude, fostering a strong research culture across the School, University and Higher Education in general is vital. It goes beyond producing high-quality research; it encompasses creating an environment where collaboration, inclusion, and diversity of thought and experience thrive. By ensuring we have a positive research culture, we can support the professional growth of our researchers, enhance the quality of their research outputs, and build trust within the academic community and with the public. 

We are committed to nurturing an atmosphere where research innovation and excellence can flourish. This focus on research culture ensures that we not only advance knowledge, but also uphold the highest standards of integrity and inclusivity.