ResearchResearch culture & environment

Strathclyde is committed to creating and sustaining a supportive research and innovation environment.  We aim to drive cultural change and impact through stimulating collaboration with internal and external partners, and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion across the Strathclyde community. Further information on Strathclyde’s Research Environment is provided below.

Current Strathclyde staff can learn more about our ongoing activities to support our research environment on the RKES Portal (internal link only).

 

Research Culture Approach

At the University of Strathclyde, we are committed to fostering a vibrant, ethical and inclusive research culture. In this page, you will find our approaches to supporting the cultures in which research, knowledge exchange and innovation (RKEI) take place. As a shorthand, we call this 'research culture' and use terms like 'research community'. Staff, postgraduate researchers (PGRs), and external collaborators can find outlined below our approach to supporting a people-oriented, responsible and sustainable culture for research, knowledge exchange and innovation.

A message from our Principal

Strathclyde’s greatest strength has always been its people. Over many years, as a researcher, a Head of Department and an Executive Dean, I have seen how much our research, knowledge exchange and innovation depend on the conditions in which colleagues work: the time they have to develop, the support they receive, and whether they feel able to speak up, take risks and collaborate.

This document sets out our approach to strengthening those conditions. It brings together the commitments we have made and shows how we will understand whether they are making a difference. Our new KPI for Research Culture reflects the importance we place on creating an environment in which everyone can contribute and thrive.

I am grateful to everyone who has shaped this approach. By listening to our community, connecting activity across Strathclyde and learning from evidence, we will build on our strengths while being honest about where we can do more.

Research governance, integrity & ethics

Strathclyde is committed to delivering world-leading research in accordance with the highest standards of research excellence and integrity. This is supported via clear policies, guidance and training, which can be accessed via the links below.

Facilities & Equipment

To be at the cutting edge of research requires an array of state-of-the-art equipment. Conveniently based in Glasgow city centre, Strathclyde has extensive analysis facilities which, when not in use for our own research purposes, can be hired by businesses as an economical way to further development of new products and services.

As a university keen to collaborate with industry, we also have a number of staff dedicated to assisting you explore collaboration opportunities and access to facilities, as well as potential funding streams.

Research Excellence Framework

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the current assessment of research quality in UK Higher Education Institutions. In the latest REF exercise, almost 90% of research produced by the University of Strathclyde was rated ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In a reflection of Strathclyde as ‘the place of useful learning’, the University’s impact and research environment has been recognised as particularly strong.

Partnerships & Enterprise

Working with entrepreneurs, academics and external business partners, our aim is to support the formation and growth of commercial opportunities and to facilitate new partnerships between these communities.

Knowledge Exchange & Impact

Knowledge Exchange at Strathclyde encompasses a wide range of activity bringing together academic staff, external partners and communities to benefit from our combined research and expertise.

We strive to produce excellent research that has benefits to society through economic, social, environmental, and political impact, and support many aspects of the research environment to enable and promote the creation of that impact.

Wellcome Trust Sustainability Concordat

The University is a proud signatory of the Wellcome Trust’s cross-sector concordat for the environmental sustainability of research and practice.

The concordat aims to ensure that the UK research sector supports the Government’s 2050 Net Zero target, and continues to develop more environmentally responsible practices whilst working to tackle one of the most complex challenges of our time: climate change. The Concordat aligns with the University’s own social and environmental sustainability ambitions.

 

Principal & Vice Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, Professor Sir Jim McDonald wrote the following in his letter of commitment to the priorities of the Concordat: 

I, Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal & Vice Chancellor on behalf of the University of Strathclyde, confirm our commitment to the priority areas outlined in the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice.

University of Strathclyde fully supports the priority areas outlined in the concordat. We will deliver against all the priorities in practice and recognise our responsibilities as a signatory, as set out in the concordat.

By signing this concordat, we recognise the need to change how we conduct research and innovation as well as promote wider solutions. We also agree to take shared action now and into the future to reduce and eliminate our own environmental impacts and emissions and achieve the transition to sustainable practices.

The University carries out research and innovation across a spectrum of areas that includes sustainability in the curriculum under the auspices of its University-wide Centre for Sustainable Development, which itself works alongside our operational sustainability team in the University Sustainability Strategic Steering Group to drive and advise the University Executive on all matters related to our sustainability commitments.

Our infrastructure strategy already reflects the commitments in the concordat in terms of standards for new build, a prioritisation of refurbishment of existing buildings and a commitment to sustainable labs. Our sustainable procurement policy applies across all areas of the University. We have a policy for reducing emissions from business and academic travel and will keep this under review. We have committed resources and have procedures in place to reduce waste and minimise the environmental impact of our operations including our research and innovation activities.

Through our academic and business collaborations and partnerships we strive to lower carbon emissions and are strategically investing in research and innovation in this area as well as actively contributing to policy with Scotland and the UK. Finally, we can confirm that we commit to publishing our data as set out in the concordat.