Research Ethics

Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies

1. Introduction and Purpose

– Independent review by RECs is one approach to ensure research is meaningful, valid, respectful and safe. It is generally, a legal, policy based and to in some cases a professional requirement that a research project undergoes such review.
– The University has three independent Research Ethics Committees (RECs) namely, Research Ethics Social Sciences Committee; Human and Clinical Trails Research Ethics committee; Animal, Environmental and Biosafety Research Ethics Committee which are aligned with the Department of Health (NHREC) guidelines and are responsible for effecting ethics approval of research proposals.
– University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) is an oversight committee of SENATE and it is established to promote Research Ethics and Integrity and takes an oversight role of the Research Ethics Committees (RECs). It is constituted by the respective chairs of RECS and key stakeholders.
– The main purpose of the RECs is to conduct rigorous ethics review of research proposals to ensure that the welfare and other interests of participants, researchers and animals used in research are properly protected and that the research will be conducted in accordance with the required ethical norms and standards. The aim of the reviews is to protect the rights, safety and well-being of the research participants and their communities. It does this by evaluating all factors that may influence the scientific validity and ethical acceptability of the proposal by applying the various ethical benchmarks.
– The Research Ethics Committees uses Guidelines and implements the policy which is designed to support ethical standards for research projects seeking approval in the University of Venda.
– UNIVEN classifies 3 categories in relation to the degree of risk namely, i) Exempt from Research Ethics Committee (straightforward research without ethical problems); ii) Expedited review (minimal risk to humans, animals or environment) and iii) Full Ethics review required (risk to humans, animals, environment, or a sensitive research area)

Applications for Research Ethical Clearance and Permission to conduct Research. 

Important to Note.

  • Note that submission of 2025 Research Ethics applications will be closing on the 31st of October 2025.
  • The Principal Investigator shall submit a protocol to the relevant Research Ethics Committee at least four weeks in advance of the REC Meeting date.
  • Ethical approval needs to be obtained prior to the commencement of the research. 
  • The RECs will not provide retrospective approval.

Process flow of the Research Ethics Clearance application is as follows:

  1. Submissions and Presentation of the project proposal at the Departmental and Faculty colloquium/meeting to include:
  • Honours research (Departmental approval), Maters and Doctoral research (FRIIC)
  • Staff/Independent Research (recommendation by faculty or relevant authority)
  • Applicable Ethics checklist from Faculty
  • All other applicable forms as required by FRIIC.
  1. Applications for ethical clearance:

·       Category 1 Research

  • Forms (R1 and R7a and R7) and the relevant documents as indicated in the application form
  • Review and Approval by Faculty REC/FRIIC
  • Recommendation of Category 2 / Category 3 Research to institutional REC

·       Category 2 / Category 3 Research

  • Forms (R1 and R7a and R7) and the relevant documents as indicated in the application form.
  • Review and Approval by Independent institutional RECs
  1. Submission of proposal (Masters and Doctoral) to UHDC to include:
  • Proposal
  • Ethical clearance Approval by Relevant RECs
  • All other applicable forms as required by UHDC.                                          

Crucial documentation to be included in new ethics applications 

  1. Completed R7/R7a
  2. Proof of Registration (Current year of application)
  3. Approved Project Proposal
  4. FHDC Approval letter (applicable to Masters and Doctoral Students)
  5. UNIVEN Informed Consent Form
  6. Data collection tool e.g. questionnaire (if applicable)
  7. Proof of Research Ethics Training
  8. Code of Conduct for researchers
  9. Interview guide/schedule i.e. the list of questions to be asked (if applicable)
  10. Letters from researcher to respective gatekeepers asking permission to conduct research
  11. Conflict of interest (Researchers) –This form should be signed by all researchers in the study. (Refer to SOPs)
  12. Copy of advertisements to be used (if applicable)

Please note that the following are required for Consideration of an application to conduct Research at the University of Venda. 

  • Application Letter signed by the applicant  
  • Proposal  
  • Ethical clearance approval from applicant’s institution
  • Questionnaires
  • Consent Forms                                                             
  • Information sheet/letter  
  • R7 form (International projects)

Also note it’s the responsibility of the applicant to organise meetings and distribution of the surveys/questionnaires for their research project after approval by the University.

Research Ethics Application Submissions 

We request that all applications be submitted through https://forms.office.com/r/MBfvqSWBeV . This will assist the office in attending to applications more efficiently.

 

Yearly Submission Deadlines

The cut-off date for Ethical clearance applications is set for end of October of each year.

Application Forms Guide

  • R7: Any project in which humans are the subject of research requires completion of this form and submission, for approval, to the appropriate Research Ethics Committee for Review before commencement of the research.
  • Form R7a New AEBREC Application: for animal, agricultural, environmental, natural, and physical sciences, and biosafety protocols. This form must be completed by all students/staff conducting research in the above-mentioned fields. This form is not for ethics approval; however, it is form that will act as a notification to the AEBREC that a research/study is being done at UNIVEN, and a commitment by student/staff to act ethically to advance research integrity.
  • Form R7b: Research ethics application for research or studies using animals.
  • Form R7c Fieldwork: This form will be used as a notification to AEBREC that a study in the field is being done, such as monitoring or just observing, and it doesn’t involve capture, handling or invasive procedures on animals.
  • Form R7d Bioinformatics: Bioinformatics ethics notification form: for projects using previously published data from online sources for research, not an ethical clearance form, this form will be submitted to notify Research Ethics Committee of such studies.
  • Form R7e Microbiology & Biochemistry: Ethical clearance form will be used mostly for studies in the microbiology and biochemistry fields of study.
  • Form R7f Lower Invertebrates: research ethics notification form for projects using lower invertebrates for research. This form to serve as a notification to the AEBREC that studies involving lower invertebrates have gone through some sort of ethical check, but the form is not an actual application for ethics approval.
  • Form R7g Crop production & Agricultural Biotechnology: Ethics in crop production and agricultural biotechnology
  • Form R7h Ethnobotanical studies: Application for approval of field research projects including ethnobotanical studies. This form will be used for medicinal plants studies.    

 

Research Ethics Training

Note that to receive and maintain ethical approval for your research, you are required to complete ethics training. This will help you gain a better understanding of the subject, learn how to appropriately interact with participants during data collection and report your research appropriately.

TRREE (for Training and Resources in Research Ethics Evaluation) TRREE aims to provide basic training, while building capacities, on the ethics of health research involving humans so that research meets highest standards of ethics and promotes the welfare of participants. TRREE provides free-of-charge access to: • e-Learning: a distance learning program and certification on research ethics evaluation • e-Resources : a participatory website with international, regional and national regulatory and policy resources.

http://elearning.trree.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=70

You are required to complete compulsory two Modules 1 (Introduction to Research Ethics)  and 3 (Informed Consent).  If your research is clinical trials and is health related you will need to submit additional certificates as per the modules below:

Module 1

Introduction to Research Ethics  NEW![EN] [FR] [DE] [ES] [PT] [PL] [SW] [HY]

Module 2

Research Ethics Evaluation  NEW![EN] [FR] [DE] [ES] [PT] [PL] [SW] [HY]

Module 3

Informed Consent  NEW![EN] [FR] [DE] [ES] [PT] [PL] [SW] [HY]

Module 4

Good Clinical Practice E6(R2) 2016[EN] [FR] [DE] [PT] [PL]

Module 5.1

HIV Vaccine Trials[EN]

Module 5.2

Adolescent involvement in HIV prevention trials[EN]

Module 5.3

Public Health Research Ethics[EN] [FR]

Note that you will be required to create an account to start with the modules.

Documents for reference

  • Research Ethics Policy
  • Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
  • Code of Conduct for Researchers
  • Application Forms
  • REC Meeting Dates
  • RE Free Online training opportunities
  • Guidelines for Classification Research Ethics and Review Process Feb 2021
  • UNIVEN Postgraduate policy
  • UNIVEN Plagiarism policy
  • National statement on ethical research and scholarly publishing practices
  • Cape Town on fostering research integrity through fairness and equity

Downloadable Documents

Related:

Research Ethical Clearance Applications Directorate of Research and Innovation continues to promote research ethics to its pole position
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