Research Ethics

The Research Ethics Committee (REC) and the Animal Research Ethics Committee (AREC) oversee the application of research ethics principles in research projects conducted in the TUT environment. The REC and AREC are duly registered committees at the National Health Research Ethics Council in South Africa.

The RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE (REC) considers the ethical acceptability of proposed research projects conducted by or involving TUT staff members and students. The REC endeavours to review, clarify and monitor all matters pertaining to the ethical aspects of research that specifically deals with human participants.

The essential functions of the REC are the following:

The REC independently reviews research proposals referred to it by the respective Faculty Committees for Research Ethics (FCREs), Faculty Committees for Postgraduate Studies (FCPSs), Faculty Committees for Research and Innovation (FCRIs) and other TUT environments (e.g. the support and administration environments), as long as the research proposals have been approved by one of the formal TUT research-competent committees [e.g. FCPS, FCRI or the Research and Innovation Committee of HEDS (RICH)].
To review and approve research proposals that require mandatory adherence to national and/or international regulatory requirements, e.g. clinical trials, human genetic research, child research and research that involves vulnerable participants/communities.
To review research proposals that have been submitted by non-TUT researchers (nationally and internationally) for projects that propose to collect data from students, staff members or other data sources (e.g. student records) in the TUT environment.
To review research-related questionnaires (paper-based format, electronic format or as part of an interview guide for interviews and/or focus groups) intended to be distributed among TUT staff members and/or students.
To monitor the progress of the approved research projects.
To develop and implement policies and/or guidelines regarding research ethics issues in the TUT context.

The primary purpose of independent ethics review and monitoring is the protection of the dignity, rights, safety, well-being and advancement of all human research participants. Special attention is paid to research that includes vulnerable participants. The REC's Standard Operating Procedures and Guidelines (SOP) document is available on request.

The ANIMAL RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE (AREC) independently evaluate, approve and monitor research that involve all animals, or samples or products from animals within a framework of generally accepted research ethics guidelines, so that the protection of the welfare and rights of animals can be ensured in the course of research. The AREC considers the ethical acceptability of proposed research projects conducted by or involving TUT staff members and students, taking into consideration ethical and welfare aspects as well as scientific or educational value in accordance with accepted and applicable national and international normative and procedural standards. The AREC endeavours to review, clarify and monitor all matters pertaining to the ethical aspects of research that specifically deals with all animals, defined as follows; ‘’live sentient non-human vertebrates, including eggs, foetuses and embryos, that is fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, wildlife and higher invertebrate such as the advanced members from the Cephalopoda and Decapoda’’(SANS 10386: latest edition). Note that the prescribed AREC Application Form must accompany all the proposal submissions.