Policy 5.6 Research

Degree and postgraduate programmes will provide opportunities for staff and students to conduct research in accordance with ICA’s ethical guidelines, organisational practices, and industry standards. The policy ensures that all research activities are carried out ethically, responsibly, and with academic integrity, contributing to both theoretical knowledge and practical industry applications.

Procedure 5.6

1. Integration of Research in Programmes
   All degree and postgraduate programmes will include research-focused components (papers/prescriptions). These components will be designed to equip students with the necessary skills to conduct ethical, rigorous, and impactful research in their fields of study. Each student will be assigned a research supervisor who will provide guidance throughout the research process.
2. Research Oversight and ICA Affiliation
   All research undertaken by students will be conducted under the banner of ICA. This ensures that the research aligns with ICA’s mission, values, and strategic objectives, and is recognised as part of ICA’s academic contributions.
3. Ethics Approval
   1. All research proposals that involve human or animal subjects, sensitive data, or other ethical concerns must receive approval from the ICA Ethics Committee or an external Ethics Approval partner prior to the commencement of the research.
   2. Researchers must submit their proposals for ethical review, ensuring compliance with all relevant ethical standards. See Form 4.12 for the ethics application process.
   3. No research may proceed without receiving ethical clearance.
4. Research Supervision
   Research supervisors will be appointed based on their expertise in the student’s research area. Supervisors are responsible for overseeing the ethical and academic quality of the research. Regular meetings will be held to ensure the research progress adheres to ICA standards.
5. Data Management and Integrity
   1. All research data must be managed in accordance with ICA’s Data Management Policy. This includes proper storage, sharing, and protection of sensitive information.
   2. Researchers are expected to maintain integrity and transparency in their data collection, analysis, and reporting.
   3. Research misconduct, including plagiarism, data falsification, or misrepresentation, will result in disciplinary action.
6. Intellectual Property and Publications
   Intellectual property (IP) resulting from student research will be governed by ICA’s Intellectual Property Policy. Ownership of research outputs, including publications, patents, or commercialised products, must be clearly outlined and agreed upon at the start of the research project.
7. Research Complaints and Dispute Resolution
   1. Complaints related to research, including issues with supervision, ethical concerns, or other grievances, can be submitted to the ICA Ethics Committee or an external Ethics Approval partner.
   2. The complaint must be lodged using Form 4.13, and will be reviewed following ICA’s dispute resolution procedures.
   3. The Ethics Committee or relevant partner will work with all parties to resolve the issue in a fair and transparent manner.
8. Publication and Dissemination of Research
   1. Students are encouraged to publish their research findings in peer-reviewed journals, conferences, or other academic platforms, where appropriate.
   2. All research publications must acknowledge ICA’s support and affiliation.
9. Health, Safety, and Well-being
   1. All research activities must comply with ICA’s Health and Safety policies to ensure the well-being of both researchers and participants.
   2. Risk assessments must be carried out for any research involving physical, psychological, or other forms of risk.
10. Annual Research Reporting
    ICA will compile an annual report of all research activities, outputs, and ethical clearances for internal review and external reporting. This will help ICA monitor the research progress and align it with institutional goals.
11. Review Cycle:
    This policy will be reviewed annually by the ICA Academic Board to ensure continued alignment with ethical standards, industry practices, and regulatory requirements.