New guidance for researchers planning international projects
01 Aug 2024
When planning a research project with funders or collaborators from certain countries, researchers are now expected to use the Research Risk Profiler tool and send its output to their Faculty Research Support Team.
The Research Risk Profiler assists researchers in navigating a range of potentially complex risk and compliance topics. When planning a research project with funders or collaborators from certain countries, researchers are now expected to use the Profiler tool and send its output to their Faculty Research Support Team.
Why are we issuing new guidance for some international research projects?
The key drivers for this change are to:
- support safe international collaboration and innovation in the changing geopolitical landscape.
- support researchers in navigating a range of potentially complex and fast-changing risks and compliance areas, including emerging Trusted Research terms and conditions of funding.
The University is keen to take proportionate measures to protect and support researchers, and ensure regulatory compliance, without damaging our leading position in research and innovation. The new guidance, which impacts an estimated 5% of research projects, focuses on areas where risks are likely to be greatest.
What guidance is changing?
The Policy on International Research Activities and Collaborations encourages all researchers to use the Research Risk Profiler when planning a research project.
From 1 August 2024, researchers are expected to complete the Research Risk Profiler when they are planning a research project that includes overseas funders or collaborators.
Funders or collaborators based in the following countries are excluded from this new requirement:
- Australia and New Zealand
- European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland
- Japan, Singapore and South Korea
- United States and Canada
About the Research Risk Profiler tool
One of the ways the University supports researchers to work safely is through the Research Risk Profile tool. Introduced in 2022 the Profiler tool:
- Has been thoroughly tested and is in continuous usage.
- Has been developed with research community input and consultation.
- Has a robust process and ownership for keeping guidance content up to date.
The tool uses a diagnostic questionnaire to guide researchers to current advice and guidance on risk and compliance topics. It takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
Who is impacted by the change to guidance?
For research projects with an in-scope international funder or collaborator:
- Researchers are expected to complete a profile and submit it to their Research Support Officer.
- Faculty Heads of Department and Research Approvers may opt to make local arrangements to assure that a profile has been completed before approval is granted. Completion of a risk profile is one mechanism to provide approvers with greater assurance that key risks have been given appropriate consideration.
- Faculty Research Services Teams will flag projects in scope of the guidance and upload completed profiles to Pure.
If you have any questions or feedback regarding the Research Risk Profiler, please contact us at: