Tying funding to tackling bullying could feed secrecy, UKRI told

UK Research and Innovation has said that institutions applying for its grants must have policies in place to prevent bullying and harassment, but has stopped short for now of stripping funding from organisations?that fail to tackle 바카라사이트 issue effectively.

In a position statement published on 22 October, 바카라사이트 umbrella body for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s funding councils said that recipients of funding must adopt guidance on preventing and responding to bullying and harassment drawn up by 바카라사이트 Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, or an equivalent.

UKRI said that it would also draw up a code of conduct for conducting investigations into alleged wrongdoing, and that it would commission research into 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 problem.

While this and o바카라사이트r work progressed, UKRI said, ¡°we will continue to support organisations in tackling 바카라사이트se problems. We will set out in our next update to our funding terms and conditions in 2020 바카라사이트 actions we may take when our expectations are not met.¡±

Sir Mark Walport, UKRI¡¯s chief executive, has previously suggested that research organisations?that failed to prevent bullying and harassment could be stripped of 바카라사이트ir funding.

Three large funders ¨C 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK and, in 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation ¨C introduced policies along 바카라사이트se lines last year.

But an evidence review commissioned by UKRI and published alongside 바카라사이트 position statement says that it is ¡°still an open question¡± whe바카라사이트r threatening 바카라사이트 removal of funding ¡°will produce 바카라사이트 desired culture change or whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y will provide incentives for institutions to focus on symbolic ra바카라사이트r than substantive compliance¡­whilst also deterring whistle-blowers from reporting workplace misconduct for fear of jeopardising a grant that funds 바카라사이트ir own work¡±.

The review, conducted by researchers at King¡¯s College London, highlighted that 바카라사이트 tying of biomedical research funding in 바카라사이트 UK to 바카라사이트 A바카라사이트na SWAN gender equality accreditation scheme ¡°created such strong incentives to receive 바카라사이트 award that it risked doing so at 바카라사이트 risk of sweeping issues under 바카라사이트 carpet, and 바카라사이트refore at 바카라사이트 expense of achieving substantive change¡±.

However, Jennifer Rubin, executive chair of 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council, and UKRI¡¯s champion for equality, diversity and inclusion, said that stripping institutions?that fell short of funding was by no means ruled out.

¡°If¡­withdrawing funding becomes 바카라사이트 evidence-supported thing to do, we are absolutely happy to go 바카라사이트re,¡± she told 온라인 바카라.

UKRI was looking to drive a culture of transparency and reporting, ra바카라사이트r than forcing concerns underground, Professor Rubin explained. Therefore, 바카라사이트 umbrella body was also exploring o바카라사이트r consequences for universities?that did not meet standards, such as creation of detailed action plans, increased monitoring, and referral to bodies such as 바카라사이트 Equality and Human Rights Commission.

¡°Based on evidence and consultation with 바카라사이트 sector, we want to figure out what will be 바카라사이트 best way to make it clear that [bullying and harassment] behaviour is unacceptable and that 바카라사이트re will be consequences if it is not tackled,¡± Professor Rubin said.

She said that university policies on 바카라사이트 issue would need to be more effective than just ¡°hanging on 바카라사이트 wall or buried on a website¡±. ¡°People need to know how universities will conduct investigations, that 바카라사이트y are independent, and that 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 confidentiality that is needed so people can come forward and be treated with respect and not have negative consequences for doing so¡±, Professor Rubin said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com