POLICY: Codes of Conduct - Research Ethics and Governance Code of Practice POLICY URL: https://lsi-ac.uk/policy/1d72a84d-f856-4cfc-906e-4e5667518eec POLICY STATEMENT: The School is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability in research. This Research Ethics and Governance Code of Practice ensures that all research, including final projects, adheres to ethical principles safeguarding participants' dignity and rights. It mandates ethical clearance, informed consent, confidentiality, and responsible data use. We support researchers with training and resources to maintain a culture of ethical scholarship and governance excellence. POLICY PRINCIPLES: ------------------ - Integrity : Upholding the highest standards of honesty and integrity in conducting research; - Transparency : Ensuring research processes are transparent and subject to scrutiny; - Respect : Treating all research participants with dignity and respect; - Accountability : Holding researchers accountable for conducting ethical research; - Compliance : Adhering to all applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines; - Social Responsibility : Acknowledging the impact of research on society and the environment; - Informed Consent : Ensuring all participants provide informed consent; - Confidentiality : Protecting the confidentiality of data and the privacy of participants; - Risk Minimisation : Identifying and minimising potential risks to participants and researchers; - Independence : Making decisions free from bias or undue influence; - Review : Subjecting research proposals to rigorous ethical review; - Continuous Improvement : Regularly updating policies to reflect evolving ethical standards and practices. REGULATORY CONTEXT: ------------------ This Policy has been developed in line with the applicable laws, regulations, regulatory advice, and sector best practices, including the following: R1. Quality Assurance Agency (QAA): Advice - Academic Misconduct - Guidance on handling academic misconduct for higher education providers. R2. Office for Students (OfS): Regulatory framework for higher education in England - This framework outlines OfS' primary aim to ensure positive outcomes for students, including access, success, and progress in higher education. It covers quality academic experience, progress into employment, and value for money. R3. Quality Assurance Agency (QAA): The Quality Code - This code represents a shared understanding of quality practice across the UK higher education sector, protecting public and student interests and championing the UK's reputation for quality. R4. UK Government : Data Protection Act 2018 - Legislation aimed at controlling the processing of personal data, laying down principles with respect to the processing of personal data, and the rights of data subjects R5. Quality Assurance Agency (QAA): Advice - Course Design and Development - R6. Quality Assurance Agency (QAA): Advice - Enabling Student Achievement - R7. Quality Assurance Agency (QAA): Advice - Learning and Teaching - METRICS: ------------------ The following metrics will be measured and regularly reviewed as performance indicators for the School to ensure the effectiveness of this policy and associated operations: M1. Compliance with Research Ethics: 100% of students and supervisors must complete mandatory research ethics training within the first month of their project. Ensuring compliance with research ethics is fundamental to maintaining integrity and quality in research. M2. Feedback on Ethical Compliance: Provide feedback on 100% of submitted ethical assessments within five working days of the Board meeting. Ensures researchers receive timely and actionable feedback to address ethical issues before proceeding. M3. Handling of Ethical Concerns: Resolve 90% of ethical concerns within 15 working days of being raised. Ensures timely resolution of ethical issues, preventing prolonged exposure to risks and maintaining research integrity. M4. Timeliness of Ethical Review: Reduce the average time for ethical review to 10 working days or less by the end of the academic year. Ensures research projects are reviewed promptly, allowing timely commencement while maintaining ethical standards. SECTION 1: Foundations of Ethical Research Practice ------------------ 1.1. Commitment to Research Integrity and Governance: The School ensures integrity and ethical standards in all research by staff and students, adhering to the principles of the Concordat to Support Research Integrity. Our policies include a strong data protection policy, academic integrity regulations, and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy. Students receive workshops on integrity, communication, ethics, and project governance during their final project modules. They can seek support from the final project module leader, their supervisors, or the Director of Education. Staff must also address ethical considerations in their research and may need to submit an assessment before commencing research. Training on supervision and research governance is provided, and misconduct, including plagiarism, is managed through a designated policy. A whistleblowing policy and a comprehensive complaints process are also in place, all monitored and evaluated under established regulations; This rule highlights the School's commitment to maintaining high standards of research integrity and ethics. By integrating integrity and governance into research activities and providing comprehensive support and training, the School ensures that all research is conducted responsibly and in accordance with its policies. This approach fosters a culture of ethical research and accountability. SECTION 2: Mandatory Ethical Impact Evaluations ------------------ 2.1. Ethical Impact Assessment Requirement (by All staff and students): All research conducted at the School must undergo a comprehensive ethical impact assessment. Researchers must address the following areas in their assessment and submit it to the Academic Board for approval before starting their research. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring these questions are thoroughly reviewed with their supervisees:; ; Legal Harm : Assess whether the research may violate laws such as the Equality Act 2010, data protection laws, or copyright laws. Ensure adherence to School policies on data protection and confidentiality, and apply proper data governance; ; Regulatory Harm : Determine if the research might breach codes or standards from professional bodies or School regulations. Ensure compliance with research and academic integrity standards; ; Reputational Harm : Evaluate whether the research could harm the School’s, staff’s, or students’ reputation, considering potential conflicts of interest and impacts on recruitment or procurement. Ensure policies on freedoms, such as speech, are observed; ; Other Harm : Identify any potential physical, mental, or environmental harm resulting from the research, including relevant safeguarding issues; Ethical assessments are crucial for maintaining the School’s values of integrity and responsible research. By addressing legal, regulatory, reputational, and other potential harms, the School ensures that research complies with relevant laws and standards, protects stakeholders, and upholds its commitment to ethical and effective research practices. SECTION 3: Procedures for Submitting Ethical Assessments ------------------ 3.1. Submission Requirements for Ethical Assessments (by All staff and students): If any of the four key questions on ethical impact are answered affirmatively, an assessment must be submitted via the Automated Governance System (AGS) before research can begin. The ethics form must include:; Research Context : Specify whether the research is staff-led or part of an undergraduate or postgraduate final project module; Contact Information : Provide the name and contact details of the researcher; Research Description : Detail the research, including dates, funders, partners, supervisors, aims, methods (e.g., questionnaires), outputs, impact, and value; Potential Harm : Describe possible harm and its reasons; Risk Minimisation : Outline steps to reduce risk and harm; Proportionality Assessment : Evaluate the remaining risk versus the research's value and impact after risk mitigation measures are applied; Student and supervisor assessments are sent to the final project module leader, who forwards them to the Academic Board. Staff assessments are sent directly to the Academic Board; This rule ensures that all research is thoroughly evaluated for ethical implications and risks before commencing. By detailing the required information and submission process, the School maintains rigorous ethical standards and safeguards the integrity and impact of its research. 3.2. Ethics Committee Meeting Procedures and Review (by Academic Board): The Academic Board will hold a standing Ethics Committee meeting each semester, with additional meetings as required. Students and supervisors should aim to submit assessments by this time. Staff assessments will also be reviewed, although urgent requests may be considered ad hoc. The Committee will review submissions and request necessary changes to ensure ethical compliance within 5 working days of the meeting. If a project cannot be modified to avoid harm, it must be revised to meet compliance standards. All decisions and actions will be recorded and stored on the Automated Governance System (AGS); This rule ensures that ethical assessments are reviewed regularly and promptly, maintaining rigorous standards for research compliance. By establishing a clear review process and timeline, the School promotes accountability and ensures that all research adheres to ethical guidelines. The use of AGS for recording decisions enhances transparency and record-keeping. SECTION 4: Continuous Ethical Review Obligations ------------------ 4.1. Ongoing Ethical Assessment Requirement (by All staff and students): Ethical obligations continue throughout a project and all researchers must pause and submit an assessment at any point a likely harm is foreseen; This rule ensures continuous monitoring of ethical considerations throughout the research project, maintaining high standards of safety and compliance. It allows for timely adjustments to mitigate risks and upholds the integrity of the research process. SECTION 5: Annual Review and Reporting on Ethics ------------------ 5.1. Annual Reporting on Ethics Policy (by Academic Board): The Academic Board will report on the application of the Ethics Policy to the Board of Governors annually. This report will include an analysis of the policy's effectiveness and any proposed changes for the Board's approval; Regular reporting ensures transparency and accountability in the application of the Ethics Policy. It allows for timely updates and improvements to maintain the policy's relevance and effectiveness in upholding ethical standards. SECTION 6: Consequences for Breaching Ethics Standards ------------------ 6.1. Consequences of Non-Compliance with Ethics Policy (by Academic Board): Non-compliance with the ethics policy may result in misconduct or disciplinary action. For any questions or clarifications, contact the Director of Education; This rule ensures adherence to ethical standards by clearly outlining the consequences of policy breaches. It directs individuals to the Director of Education for guidance, reinforcing the importance of maintaining ethical conduct.