To provide a clear understanding of what constitutes 'authorship' and the order in which 'authorship' should be recorded. To ensure that those staff and students who participate in research activities are acknowledged and that their contributions are fairly represented. To ensure that the policy supports research students in their endeavours to publish scholarly work and that it acknowledges and guarantees their rights in relation to any scholarly publications generated by them. To develop a policy framework which is university-wide and which is flexible enough to accomodate variations inherent in publication patterns across different Fields of Research within the University. It should be noted that authorship of a research output is a matter that should be discussed at the earliest stages of a research output and re-assessed at any time that there is a change in participation.
Honorary authorship is unacceptable.
Persons who have not contributed in any of the above ways should not be included in the authorship list. In no circumstances should a person be either included or excluded from authorship without negotiation and the agreement of all parties concerned. All co-authors should acknowledge their authorship in writing. This acknowledgment should be placed on a file to be managed by the coordinating author. Acknowledgment of other contributions of a less substantial nature may be determined by negotiation between authors.