Self-Assessment Tool for the Concordat to Support Research Integrity

UKRIO’s Self-Assessment Tool is designed to help organisations assess how well their research policies, practices, and culture support the five core commitments of the Concordat to Support Research Integrity. 

It provides a structured framework for reviewing current practice, identifying gaps, and setting priorities for action, including self-assessment questions mapped to the Concordat’s five commitments and practical examples of how these may be implemented in practice. It also provides an analysis of key changes made to the refreshed 2025 Concordat and guidance on writing annual research integrity statements.

The Tool can support a range of institutional processes, including strategic planning, quality assurance, and internal audit. Critically, it encourages organisations to take a whole-institution approach to research integrity, fostering collaboration across departments and aligning efforts with regulatory and funder expectations. 

The Concordat to Support Research Integrity is the UK’s national framework for maintaining high standards of research conduct. It sets out clear responsibilities for researchers, institutions, and funders to promote a culture of integrity and ensure that research is conducted ethically, transparently, and with accountability. 

Organisations are expected to demonstrate how they meet the five core commitments of the Concordat, including through regular review, internal reporting, and ongoing improvement. Demonstrated compliance with the revised 2025 Concordat is expected by April 2026. Compliance with the Concordat is also a condition of funding from many research funders.  

UKRIO’s Self-Assessment Tool provides a structured and practical means of navigating this framework. It supports institutions in evaluating their current systems, identifying gaps, and aligning policies and practices with the expectations of the Concordat. By using the Tool, organisations can strengthen their support for research integrity and meet both internal and external requirements with greater confidence. 

Version 3.0 of the Self-Assessment Tool reflects updates to align with the 2025 edition of the Concordat to Support Research Integrity and evolving expectations across the research landscape. Key changes include: 

• Alignment with the 2025 Concordat refresh – updated content to reflect the revised commitments, language, and expectations of the latest edition of the Concordat, which organisations are expected to implement by April 2026. 
• Expanded self-assessment tables – new and revised prompts to help institutions evaluate their performance in greater depth, capture progress more clearly, and link activities to specific areas of the Concordat. 
• New guidance on annual statements – detailed discussion of the possible content of organisational annual research integrity statements, in line with Commitment 5 of the Concordat and the associated annual statement reporting template 
• Enhanced usability – improved layout and formatting. 

These updates are based on extensive feedback from users and sector stakeholders and are designed to support a robust and future-focused approach to research integrity. 

The Self-Assessment Tool is designed for individuals and organisations responsible for research governance, integrity, and oversight. This includes: 

• Research integrity officers and equivalent roles 
• Senior leadership and policy teams at research-performing and research-supporting organisations 
• Research managers and administrators 
• Research ethics committees 
• Funders, publishers, and regulators 

The Tool is suitable for use in any UK research organisation, regardless of size, sector, or disciplinary focus, and may also be adapted for use in international contexts. Although primarily intended for research-employers, the Tool is also relevant to funders, sector bodies, and others seeking to benchmark good practice or inform policy development. 

The Tool is intended for use as a flexible, evidence-informed framework that supports continuous improvement. Organisations can use it to: 

• Align institutional reporting – including research integrity statements – with the requirements of the 2025 Concordat 
• Support internal quality assurance and risk management processes 
• Inform strategic planning and policy development 
• Identify strengths and weaknesses in current systems and practices 
• Conduct a comprehensive review of their alignment with the Concordat 

Organisations may use the Tool in its entirety or adapt it for internal use, provided appropriate acknowledgment is given. An editable version of the self-assessment tables and a standalone version of the guidance on research integrity statements is available to support ease of use.