The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has begun formulating a response to newly launched National Department of Health (NDoH) guidelines set by the National Health Research Ethics Council.
On Thursday, September 5, leading academics and researchers convened at the Life Sciences building at UWC for the 8th Annual Western Cape Research Ethics Workshop. Hosted by UWC's Research Development and Postgraduate Support (RDPS), the workshop focused on the new guidelines.
This year's event, which attracted participants from institutions like the Medical Research Council (MRC), University of Cape Town (UCT), Stellenbosch University (SU), Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), and UWC, underscored the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in refining and understanding research ethics.
The workshop commenced with an opening address by Professor Jesika Singh, Director of RDPS, followed by a series of presentations from experts across various research domains. These sessions sparked rich discussions, culminating in a concluding address by Professor Amiena Peck, Chairperson of the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee at UWC.
Prof. Peck emphasised the critical role of ethics in research.
"Our research is the heart of our university, but ethics is the spine – it is ethics that allows your research to stand up for critical review and evaluation."
Prof.Peck also highlighted UWC's proactive role in shaping ethical guidelines, particularly for the social sciences.
"There are guidelines that work for health, but not for the social sciences, especially when it involves people, emotions, storytelling, and narratives. We are here to inform, not just follow, the guidelines and ensure an ethical fit across domains," she said.
Speakers delved into ethical considerations within their specific fields, with notable contributions including:
* Prof. Shazly Savahl (UWC): Discussed a children's rights approach to ethical research, emphasising the importance of children's voices being heard and respected throughout the research process.
* Natasha Kennemeyer (UCT): Addressed the need to transform data extraction models in community-based research, advocating for joint ownership of data to foster trust between researchers and communities.
* Prof. Marc Blockman (UCT): Explored the ethical-legal complexities of conducting research with adolescents, stressing the importance of balancing risk and benefit, obtaining informed consent, and safeguarding participants' privacy.
The success of the workshop was attributed to the teamwork of the organising committee, which included Chairs and Vice-Chairs from all three UWC research ethics committees: HSSREC, BMREC, and AREC. The hybrid event, coordinated by Patricia Josias of the Research and Postgraduate Development unit, was made possible with the support of Professor José Frantz, UWC's Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation.
The workshop not only reinforced UWC's leadership in research ethics but also highlighted the institution's commitment to fostering collaborative, ethical research practices across disciplines and institutions.
