MSU holds research ethics workshop

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
FIRST Lady Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa was one of Midlands State University (MSU) PhD students who attended a research ethics workshop in Gweru yesterday.

The workshop was facilitated by Professor Paul Ndebele who is with the Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe.

The First Lady sat through the workshop which started at 8:45AM and ended at 1PM.

Amai Mnangagwa graduated with an MBA from MSU in 2008.

Prof Ndebele said the workshop was of utmost importance for the students so that they come up with quality research that can be recognised worldwide.

“This workshop is very important as it will assist you come up with quality research projects as PhD students as well as this institution,” he said.

Prof Ndebele said students should abide by laws and ethics governing the exercise so that animal and human rights are taken into consideration.

He said no one should be forced to participate in research adding that the participant’s right to abandon research should be considered.

“You should avoid unnecessary suffering of participants during the research. Know that research can be stopped at any time and the interest of the participant should always prevail,” Prof Ndebele said.

In her welcome remarks, MSU pro-vice chancellor Prof Doreen Moyo, said: “Universities are research engines that generate new knowledge and proffer solutions to challenges bedevilling our communities, industry and other sectors of the economy. Research output is pivotal when it comes to career advancement, product development and ranking of institutions.”

Prof Moyo said increasing research activity and competition for research funding may sometimes result in dishonest and fraudulent practices adding that it was therefore imperative that all research involving humans, animals and the environment be scientifically sound and therefore ethical.

Ethics, she said, refer to norms of conduct that distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

Prof Moyo said research ethics are bound by various national and international codes and guidelines supplemented by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

“In terms of these documents, all research involving human subjects should be conducted in accordance to four basic ethical principles, namely; respect; beneficence, non-malficience and justice,” she said.

MSU, Prof Moyo said, is committed to the implementation of research ethics as evidenced by its Senate-approved Research Ethics Policy.

“The University also has a functional Ethics Committee and rudimentary Faculty Ethics Committees. The Ethics Committees are mandated to vet and approve research proposals and provide oversight.

“It is my sincere hope that the deliberations of this research ethics sensitisation workshop will enhance the services of the University Ethics Committee and cultivate a conducive environment for research.”

“Midlands State University is a research driven institution and has put in place structures to ensure quality research. The Office of the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research and Academic Affairs and the Research and Postgraduate Studies Office are mandated to consolidate research related activities and research management.

“It is therefore befitting that these offices together with the University Ethics Committee have organised this sensitisation workshop on research ethics for academic staff, researchers and doctorate students. This information should be cascaded down to undergraduate students and the rest of postgraduate students so as to enforce adherence to ethical principles as they conduct their research,” she said.

Prof Moyo said research at MSU should underscore core values of integrity, innovativeness and creativity, teamwork and professionalism.

She said high ranked journals have made it mandatory that all submitted research manuscripts have a section that stipulates that research was done ethically.

“Grant funders also have the same requirements when it comes to research grant applications. This underscores the importance of fully implementing the University Ethics Policy,” said Prof Moyo.