CCA’s Expert Panel to strengthen research environment, says AUCC

OTTAWA, October 21, 2010 – The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada welcomes the work of the Council of the Canadian Academies’ Expert Panel on research integrity made public today in their report Honesty, Accountability and Trust: Fostering Research Integrity in Canada.

“University research generates new knowledge, products, policies and programs that impact the lives of Canadians every day,” said AUCC president Paul Davidson. “We owe it to Canadians to ensure that research conducted on our campuses and in our communities is conducted with integrity.”

AUCC has a longstanding history of working closely with the TriCouncil (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Natural Science and Engineering Research Council and Canadian Institutes of Health Research) on the joint integrity policy framework. Together, we have put measures in place to improve policy implementation and transparency. The Panel’s report will be a welcome resource in continuing to strengthen the TriCouncil policy.

Most recently, AUCC and the TriCouncil established a Research Integrity Advisory Group (RIAG). Made up of university representatives, RIAG will provide agencies with external advice on research integrity and ensure that recommendations for research integrity policy changes will be well informed by the realities on our campuses.

“AUCC welcomes the opportunity to participate in the TriCouncil consultations on the revised draft policy in 2011, to build on existing policies and practices to strengthen the culture of research integrity in Canada, and to secure Canada’s solid reputation as a place where values such as honesty, accountability and trust are upheld and respected,” added Mr. Davidson.

AUCC is the voice of Canada’s universities. It represents 95 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges.

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For more information:
Lyse Huot
Director, Government Relations and Communications
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada