Understand the Risks, Responsibilities, and Best Practices for Secure, Ethical Research

What you'll learn

Understand and explain the core principles of Trusted Research, including its relevance to both UK and international research contexts.

Recognise the legal and institutional responsibilities placed on individuals and organisations, and understand their role as risk managers.

Develop practical strategies to manage risks, including protecting knowledge assets and intellectual property.

Identify appropriate support, escalation procedures, and compliance resources to uphold Trusted Research principles in practice.

Requirements

While the course is accessible to anyone with an interest in the subject, having a basic understanding of academic research processes will be beneficial. However, no prior knowledge of Trusted Research is required, as the course provides a comprehensive introduction to the topic.

Description

In today's global research environment, protecting the integrity, security, and ethical foundations of your work is more important than ever. This short, accessible course introduces the principles of Trusted Research—a practical framework that helps researchers, institutions, and industry partners identify and manage risks in research collaboration, particularly in international contexts.Designed for beginners and busy professionals, this course is ideal for anyone working in or supporting research who needs a clear understanding of the risks, responsibilities, and best practices involved in Trusted Research. Whether you're an academic, research support officer, or part of a commercial research partnership, you'll gain essential insights to support secure and responsible research activity.Through bite-sized videos, visual explainers, case studies, and interactive exercises, you'll explore:What Trusted Research is and why it mattersLegal, ethical and security risks in researchApplying Trusted Research in both domestic and international settingsKey regulations including GDPR, Export Controls and the NSI ActEscalation procedures, resources, and risk mitigation strategiesBy the end of the course, you'll be able to recognise and respond to research-related risks with confidence. If you want to build on this foundation, our Advanced Trusted Research module offers a deeper dive into practical implementation, complex case studies, and high-risk scenarios.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Welcome

Lecture 2 Introduction

Lecture 3 Definition and Importance of Trusted Research

Lecture 4 Relevance in Domestic and International Collaborations

Lecture 5 Common Myths About Trusted Research, Myth #1

Lecture 6 Common Myths About Trusted Research, Myth #2

Lecture 7 Common Myths About Trusted Research, Myth #3

Lecture 8 Common Myths About Trusted Research, Myth #4

Section 2: Guidelines & Legislation

Lecture 9 Overview of NPSA and UKRI Guidelines

Lecture 10 Introduction to UK Legislation

Lecture 11 Emphasising the Role of Legal Frameworks in Shaping Research Responsibilities

Section 3: Developing Risk Management Strategies

Lecture 12 Understanding Risk in Research

Lecture 13 The Consequences of Ignoring Trusted Research

Lecture 14 What's at Stake? The Real Risks of Ignoring Trusted Research

Section 4: The Role of Escalation Procedures

Lecture 15 Escalation Procedures

Section 5: Support and Resources

Lecture 16 Support and Resources

Section 6: Protecting Knowledge Assets

Lecture 17 The Importance of Protecting Knowledge Assets

Section 7: Case Studies and Practical Applications

Lecture 18 Case Study 1

Lecture 19 Case Study 2

Lecture 20 Practical Exercise

Section 8: Reflection Exercise

Lecture 21 Reflection Exercise

Section 9: Final Quiz

Section 10: Conclusion and Next Steps

Lecture 22 Conclusion and Next Steps

Lecture 23 References and Further Reading

Lecture 24 Congratulations

This course is designed for academic researchers, research administrators, IT professionals, and international research collaborators involved in academic or research environments. It is particularly suited for those responsible for managing, securing, or advising on research projects that involve international partnerships, sensitive data, or complex regulatory compliance.