data.ncl.ac.uk
Newcastle University Research Culture Maturity Framework (RCMF) and supporting documents
This dataset contains the co-created Newcastle University Research Culture Maturity Framework (Version 6.0) to help academic units reflect on, evaluate, and improve their research culture, and two supporting documents, a Research Culture Maturity Framework Guide for Units (Version 6.0) and a Research Culture Maturity Framework Equality Analysis (Version 3.0).The Research Culture Maturity Framework has been co-created with members of the research community at Newcastle University and is currently being piloted. We intend for the framework and its supporting documents to grow and evolve over time as more groups use the materials and provide feedback on their experiences. New versions will be published as they are created.Purpose and ScopeThe Research Culture Maturity Framework is intended as a reflective and developmental tool, rather than a performance metric. It supports:Self-assessment of research culture at unit (e.g. school, institute, department) level.Identification and sharing of good practice.Development of evidence-informed action plans.Tracking of progress and cultural change over time.Alignment with institutional strategies and sector expectations.The framework has been co-created with members of the research community and is designed to evolve through ongoing feedback and real-world application.This resource is relevant to:Universities and research organisations.Academic and professional services teams.Research leaders, managers, and culture practitioners.Policy-makers and sector bodies interested in research culture enhancement.The collection includes three components:Research Culture Maturity Framework (Excel tool)A structured self-assessment framework organised into 18 Areas for Reflection across five core themes:Leadership and Management.Openness and Integrity.Freedom to Grow and Explore.Fairness and Inclusion.Collaboration and Collegiality.Each area includes descriptors across progressive “maturity levels” (from Embryonic to Embedded), enabling teams to assess current practice, identify strengths, and prioritise actions for improvement.Unit Guide (Word document)A comprehensive guidance document for users (academic unit) to support the implementation of the framework. It provides:Background and institutional context (specifically for Newcastle University but with some relevance for other institutions).Instructions for use and facilitation approaches.Guidance on inclusive engagement and co-creation.Advice on action planning, evaluation, and monitoring.Alignment with sector frameworks and REF 2029 (Strategy, People and Research Environment).The guide emphasises that research culture change is iterative, locally contextual, and best achieved through inclusive consultation and shared ownership.Equality Analysis (Word document)An impact assessment examining how the framework may affect different groups, particularly in relation to protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.It identifies both potential benefits, such as improved inclusion and psychological safety, and risks (e.g. accessibility or representation issues), alongside mitigation actions to support equitable implementation.
