Have you read the University’s updated Authorship Policy yet?

The updated Authorship Policy (MPF1181 – effective 17 July 2023) details the University’s expectations pertaining to research authorship for all types of research outputs. It is important that all University researchers are familiar with the policy and understand their responsibilities around research authorship.

What’s in the Authorship Policy?

The policy provides:

• Overarching procedural principles
• Authorship criteria and contribution recognition
• Procedural requirements and guidance relating to Authorship Agreements and the Management of Authorship Disputes
• Details of specific roles and responsibilities including that of the Coordinating Author
• Best practice advice such as initiating authorship discussions early on when planning research outputs and resolving disputes prior to publication
• Where to seek advice and assistance
• Definitions

Resources to support you

The policy was recently revised to provide greater clarity and a new suite of accompanying resources developed and released by the Office of Research Ethics and Integrity’s (OREI) Education and Engagement Team to better support researchers to interpret and meet its requirements:

• Research Authorship Agreement Templates – these provide guidance and support responsible record keeping.
• Authorship FAQ – assists with the interpretation and application of the policy to specific and commonly occurring situations. The FAQs also include advice on how Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) impacts authorship.
• Authorship Dispute Resolution Procedure Flowchart – outlines the processes that take place for authorship disputes relating to published and unpublished research outputs.

For more information, visit the Authorship page on the Research Gateway or contact OREI’s Education and Engagement Team at orei-edu@unimelb.edu.au.

Have questions about authorship?

If you have any concerns related to authorship conduct, reach out to your Advisory Committee Chairs, a Research Integrity Advisor (RIA) or OREI’s Research Integrity Team for further advice and assistance, including on how concerns are managed.