National Centre for Research Culture

About the Centre

The National Centre for Research Culture aims to improve research culture across the UK Higher Education sector, and beyond.

Working closely with key partners and HEIs nationwide, it will serve as a long-term hub for knowledge curation, training and innovative research into research culture.

We are:

Building a community of practice through collaboration, curation of knowledge and practice to facilitate improvements to research culture
Raising the profile of research culture across the sector
Developing and implementing sector-wide initiatives.
Facilitating empirical research and quality reviews into research culture
Developing sector-wide training

International Research Culture Conference 2024

The next International Research Culture Conference (IRCC) will be held at The University of Warwick on Monday 16 September 2024. Abstract submissions are now open.

Work with us to co-create an exciting programme of activities.

IRCC 2024

Our People

“When it comes to research culture, universities are not islands, they are part of a larger community. To improve research culture, universities and their partners must coordinate, cooperate and share their good practices. To help achieve this, the University of Warwick has established the National Centre for Research Culture, for the benefit of the entire UK research community.”

-Professor Sotaro Kita, Director of the National Centre for Research Culture and Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)

International Research Culture Conference 2023

The International Research Culture Conference (IRCC) invited all those working in research to come together, to foster meaningful conversations and relationships. The conference attracted nearly 400 delegates. The session recordings and event gallery are now available to view.

National Research Culture Enablers Network

The Research Culture Enablers Network (RCEN) has been created as a solutions-focused group designed to exchange, debate, and challenge ideas surrounding research culture, with a view to removing inequities in conversation and engage collaboratively in opportunities to identify gaps, create new knowledge and effect change. The network is open to any researcher enabler role. Find out more about the network.

Work with the National Centre for Research Culture

Working closely with partners across the sector, we are very keen to hear about and collaborate on research culture initiatives from across the sector. Please email , or sign up to our mailing list to receive updates, news and events. You can also follow our LinkedIn page.

Research on research culture

We carry out research on research culture in partnership with the Doctoral Education and Academia Research Centre.

Find out more

The PATHWAY Programme

We're working to tackle the under-representation of black academics in UK Higher Education. The Warwick PATHWAY Programme will offer a wide range of opportunities and initiatives along the entire career pathway, and aims to create a community of aspiring black researchers.

Get involved

Research Culture at the University of Warwick

From improving support for early career researchers, to connecting academics with schoolteachers to fuel the curriculum, hear first hand from the people who are working to improve research culture across Warwick and beyond.

Research Culture Projects at Warwick

What is Research Culture?

Research culture encompasses the behaviours, values, expectations, attitudes and norms of our research communities. It influences researchers’ career paths and determines the way that research is conducted and communicated (Royal Society).

Our programme of initiatives includes creating an inclusive research environment, removing barriers, recognising different contributions, supporting researchers’ career development and well-being, involving non-academic stakeholders in research, and keeping our research practice sound and open.

Why do we need a National Centre for Research Culture?

Research culture is a prominent issue in the UK research and innovation sector. The effort to improve in UK higher education has been fragmented: Many universities are carrying out various short-term projects with little coordination, which can lead to a duplication in efforts.

The National Centre for Research Culture will work with UK research funding bodies and universities to coordinate our collective efforts, seeking synergy and sharing best practice across the sector, with a sustained, substantial focus on improving research culture and environment.

Why Warwick?

At Warwick, we’ve been actively working to provide support for researchers across our campus and remove barriers to productivity through a substantial research culture programme, with research culture a central theme in our research strategy.

Our excellent track record encompasses areas such as mental health, productivity, leadership training and development and EDI issues in innovation.

What are the benefits of a positive research culture?

A positive research culture helps support all research staff to enjoy their work, providing an environment where colleagues feel valued and are free to express themselves, share ideas and build connections with one another. Ultimately, a good research culture will help academics thrive and impact their career paths.

For higher education institutions, a positive research culture will help to attract and retain talent, and improve the quality of research undertaken overall.

> Research Culture at Warwick

> Resources for Warwick Researchers

> Work With Us

> Warwick Research