Research IT

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RSE Department Commitments to Researchers

Our Research Software Engineering (RSE) Department has launched its new Terms of Engagement, setting out a series of commitments from RSEs and researchers governing how we collaboratively deliver our services and help the research we support produce the best possible outcomes.

Why “Terms of Engagement”?

We have been delivering RSE as a service successfully to our research community for many years. Part of that success story has been the flexibility of the approach we use and the roles we play within that process. However, there are always cases, especially for new RSEs or new researchers working with us, where more concrete guidelines on what is expected by all parties are beneficial. Following the lead of some of our N8 partners including Newcastle University and University of Sheffield, we decided to define our own “Terms of Engagement” (ToE) – a reference document that sets expectations when working with the RSE department.

What are the “Terms of Engagement”?

The aim of the ToE is to ensure that everyone who is involved in a project has the same understanding of expectations on themselves and others in the engagement. This reduces ambiguity, miscommunication, and misunderstandings, ensuring a high level of consistency in project execution. Essentially, it lets you know what you can expect from us, and equally what we expect from you, to ensure a project is successful and delivers the best possible outcomes for the research we support.

We started developing our Terms of Engagement with a workshop attended by the whole RSE Department. The outputs of this were used to produce an initial draft document, approved by the RSE Department’s Leadership Team. The final version was reviewed and approved by the Research Infrastructure Advisory Group (RIAG) (a collaborative group between Research IT and the academic community) in January 2026.

What this ToE provides for researchers:

  • Clearly defined expectations for the members of a project team
  • Clearly defined ways of working
  • Clearly defined routes for raising and resolving issues
  • Clearly defined expectations for how you should engage with us

Taken together, these commitments are designed to ensure that collaborations between researchers and the RSE department produce great results, while ensuring we put appropriate emphasis on wellbeing and a good working relationship.

Where are the “Terms of Engagement”?

Our new Terms of Engagement are available for viewing within the University. If you’re considering RSE support on one of your projects, please review the document and get in touch to arrange an initial meeting via our Connect form.