Gauging the need for research ethics training in a Southern African Developing Community – A SARIMA initiative

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Published: Aug 12, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7196/
Keywords:
research ethics, research ethics committee, research ethics oversight, training

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S Engelbrecht
Research Compliance, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Southern African Association for Research Innovation and Management Association, Centurion, South Africa
T Coetzee
Office of Research Integrity, Directorate Research Support, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
E Flack-Davison
Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract





Background. Recently, there has been a notable rise in requests for research ethics training from institutions across the Southern African Developing Community (SADC) region. This surge prompted the Southern African Research and Innovation Research Management Association (SARIMA) to seek input from all stakeholders to guide their efforts. SARIMA aims to enhance the professionalisation of research management and administration throughout SADC, thereby complementing the portfolio of skills for research administrators and managers who support Research Ethics Committees (RECs).


Objective. To gauge the needs and requirements for research ethics training within the SADC region and to determine the themes and topics that require attention and in-depth focus to support and facilitate ethical research development.


Methods. This quantitative study surveyed SARIMA members. In total, 84 professionals working in research ethics and integrity responded to the survey. The geographical scope was Southern Africa, encompassing 16 member states of the SADC region.


Results. Most respondents indicated strong institutional support or a positive attitude from institutional leadership toward RECs and related matters. Institutions were recognised for their responsibility in providing training in ethics and research conduct across the research ecosystem, including postgraduate students, researchers, managers and administrators. There are Communities of Practice in Research Ethics and Integrity in the SADC region under the auspices of SARIMA with the required knowledge and expertise to deliver such training upon request.


Conclusion. Providing training in ethics and research conduct for all involved in the research ecosystem is a collective responsibility shared by institutions and researchers. Research management and administration professionals play a vital role in ensuring training initiatives in research ethics and integrity are available to their research community.





Article Details

How to Cite
Gauging the need for research ethics training in a Southern African Developing Community – A SARIMA initiative. (2024). South African Journal of Bioethics and Law, 17(2), e1808. https://doi.org/10.7196/
Issue
SAJBL Vol 17 No. 2
Section
Research Articles
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Author Biographies

S Engelbrecht, Research Compliance, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Southern African Association for Research Innovation and Management Association, Centurion, South Africa

Sidney holds the Senior Research Compliance Specialist position at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Sidney has been working in research administration and management for more than a decade, specifically focusing on research ethics, integrity, and compliance. He is a seasoned research ethics administrator in human (biomedical and clinical) research, animal research and biosafety, and research integrity. Throughout his career, he offered research training and advice on those subjects at various universities and Research Ethics Committees.

Sidney obtained professional recognition as a Research Management Professional accredited by the International Professional Recognition Council. He is the recipient of the Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Research Management Profession from the South African Department of Science and Innovation. He authored two chapters in the student notebook on Jurisprudence for Laboratory Animal Technologists. He co-authored peer-reviewed papers on the Nagoya protocol.

Sidney obtained undergraduate qualification in Law and postgraduate qualifications in Philosophy (Applied Ethics and Bioethics) from Stellenbosch University and Compliance Management and Copyright from the Law School at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He is a seasoned Bio-ethicist.

T Coetzee, Office of Research Integrity, Directorate Research Support, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

Tanya is a Research Ethics Administrator at the University of South Africa. She was part of the research and postgraduate ecosystem in Higher Education for many years and has been part of the research ethics committee environment since 2013. She has completed the MPhil in Applied
Ethics in 2018. She is affiliated with several membership organisations, such as REASA and the SARIMA
Community of Practice in the promotion of research ethics in South Africa and Africa.

E Flack-Davison, Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Eleni, BA LLB LLM, Admitted attorney of the High Court of the Republic of South Africa, Legal Adviser, Research Compliance Manager, Head: Office of Research Integrity and the Research Data Protection Officer at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits University).

As the legal adviser for the Research Office: Legal Services, I provide legal services and legal advice to the Senior Management of the University as well as to academics / researchers, that enables research and innovation through research contracts as well as the management and operation of the Research Office: Legal Services.

She is the Research Compliance Manager. She encourages high quality research integrity as well as ethics in the sphere of research. This includes but is not limited to supervision, management, and oversight of the University Research Ethics Committees and management of the Ethics administrative personnel. Wits has 5 University Research Ethics Committees that deal with Non-Medical, Medical, Animal Ethics Screening and Control, Biobanks, Clinical Drug Trials, and Institutional Biosafety.

Eleni is a special adviser to the LOC for the 7th World Conference on Research Integrity (WRCI) which will be held in Cape Town in 2022. She is part of the Research Ethics Associations of Southern Africa (REASA) Executive Committee and on the Marketing and Communications sub-Committee. She has been part of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) drafting Committee in relation to the POPIA Code of Conduct for Research in South Africa. In 2021, she has co-Chaired the launch of the Northern Regions Research Ethics and Integrity Community of Practice (CoP) under the auspices of the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA).  The CoP took on the mammoth task of drafting ethics guidelines and toolkit for the SADC Region in terms of the Nagoya Protocol.

How to Cite

Gauging the need for research ethics training in a Southern African Developing Community – A SARIMA initiative. (2024). South African Journal of Bioethics and Law, 17(2), e1808. https://doi.org/10.7196/

References

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