Societal Trust in Science, Research and Innovation (HEIs)- Policy Brief
ResourcesSocietal Trust in Science, Research and Innovation (HEIs)- Policy Brief
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What is this about?
This policy brief is designed specifically for higher education institutions (HEIs) and explores how they can build and maintain societal trust in science through practices of integrity, openness, and engagement. It underscores that trust depends not just on the content of research but on how research is governed, communicated, and connected to societal values. The brief identifies core trust-challenges for HEIs such as limited transparency in institutional processes, weak mechanisms for stakeholder involvement in research agenda-setting, insufficient visibility of negative or null results, and internal cultures that may emphasise output over integrity.
It proposes targeted recommendations for HEIs: embedding research integrity and responsible research practices into institutional strategy, promoting open science and transparent governance, enhancing institutional accountability through stakeholder engagement and monitoring, and aligning institutional performance and evaluation frameworks with trust-related metrics. The goal is to empower HEIs to become more socially responsive, ethically robust, and publicly credible.Why is this important?
This policy brief is most important for leadership and governance within higher education institutions such as university presidents, vice-rectors, deans, heads of research offices who shape institutional strategy and policies. It also matters for integrity officers, ethics committees, and open science coordinators working within HEIs who operationalise institutional practices and frameworks.
Additionally, it is relevant for institutional research managers and administrators who design evaluation, reward and monitoring systems. The brief also has value for funders and policymakers looking to engage HEIs in strengthening trust in science at a systemic level. By adopting the recommendations, these stakeholders can help transform HEIs into centres of trustworthy research, robust engagement and social relevance.
