Members of the Research Ethics Committee and reviewers of ethics applications received two days of training on Research Ethics and Integrity. The University of Venda’s Directorate of Research and Innovation facilitated the training. The training occurred from 24 to 25 July at the Research Confer-ence Centre.
Group photo of the participants
The focus of the training was to enhance knowledge and understanding of research ethics and integrity among UNIVEN committee members and reviewers from different faculties to ensure the protection of research participants and researchers and promote responsible conduct and ethi-cal research practices. The training investigated the main principles of research ethics, discussed common ethical challenges faced by researchers, ethics committee members, and reviewers, and explored strategies for upholding integrity in the research process. The ultimate goal was to equip research ethics committee members with the necessary tools and knowledge to make informed decisions and promote ethical conduct in all research activities. Mr Winston. A. Beukes from Stellen-bosch University and Mr. Siyanda Manqele from the University of Zululand facilitated the training. Both facilitators represented the research ethics and integrity Community of Practices in Southern Africa and SARIMA (Southern Africa Research and Innovation Management Association).
Mr Winston A. Beukes
On the first day of the training, Mr. Winston A. Beukes, the Manager for Animal Ethics, Biosafety, and Permit Compliance at Stellenbosch University, spoke about animal ethics, biosafety, and compliance, specifically on the following topics: culture of research integrity and compliance, veterinary supervision and support; harm-benefit analysis; responsible conduct of research and collaborators; appropriate institutional policies and procedures; and the use of animals in community projects.
Mr Siyanda Manqele
Day two’s highlights included the following subjects, which were led by Siyanda Manqele, Manager of Research Ethics and Integrity, University of Zululand: Historical background of research ethics and Research Ethics Committee (REC) ‘s roles and responsibilities;
National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) Audit process (Active and Passive monitoring in accordance with the new guidelines); Department of Health (DoH) 2024 draft guidelines: an in-depth analysis; Research Ethics vs. Community Access; and Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC) review case studies with a UNIVEN focus.
Training research ethics committee members and reviewers has been seen as crucial to safeguard-ing the rights and well-being of research participants, researchers, and institutional reputation, ensuring the reliability, validity, and credibility of research findings and upholding the reputation of the research community. The training enhanced members’ understanding of ethical principles, regulations, and best practices, equipping them to effectively evaluate research proposals, oversee studies, and address ethical issues that may arise. Ultimately, well-trained committee members and reviewers play a vital role in promoting ethical conduct, maintaining public trust in research, and upholding the ethical standards for scientific progress.
Professor Yoshan Moodley of the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineer-ing and Agriculture at the University of Venda, welcomed the participants.
In her concluding remarks, Prof. Mari Manjoro expressed her gratitude to the facilitators for their captivating Research Ethics and Integrity presentations. She emphasised that the importance of training was to promote the understanding and application of ethical principles in research and teaching through case studies that demonstrate how to navigate integrity difficulties in research effectively. Prof Manjoro highlighted that conducting research requires accountability. She further said, “We should not grow weary but should keep improving, particularly in training and empower-ing reviewers, research ethics committee members, and researchers. We are improving gradually as an institution. We should impart this knowledge to our students as well”.
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Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
