The University of the Philippines Open University Institutional Research Ethics Committee (UPOU IREC), in collaboration with the Faculties of Study, recently spearheaded a comprehensive training workshop on research ethics, focusing on basic research ethics and the Committee’s Standard Operating Procedures, and ethics review processes. The Committee piloted the training workshop to the Faculty of Education, Faculty of Management and Development Studies, and Faculty of Information and Communication Studies on 6-7 May 2024, 19-20 September 2024 and 14-15 October 2024, respectively. The two-day hybrid workshops aimed to equip each faculty member and researcher with an in-depth understanding of foundational research ethical principles, practices, and ethics review processes for UPOU stakeholders.
The UPOU IREC is currently given a Level 2 Accreditation by the Philippines Health Research Ethics Board, the national policy-making body in health research ethics in the country, created under DOST Special Order No. 091 s. 2006, which ensures adherence to the universal ethical principles for the protection and promotion of the dignity of health research participants. Also, in adherence to the Memorandum No. OVPAA 2020-145 (Ethics Review of Research Projects Involving Human Subjects) issued by the UP System in 2020, the UPOU IREC is tasked to facilitate the review of the ethical soundness of the research proposals among UPOU stakeholders.
To comply with the policies and ethical standards for research, the UPOU IREC cascaded these principles and ethical standard operating procedures to the different Faculties of Study in preparation for establishing their faculty research ethics subcommittee.
FMDS Research Ethics Committee
FED Research Ethics Committee
FICS Research Ethics Committee
Participants were encouraged to engage in the discussion and express their opinions on how the faculty subcommittee will further develop the University’s research ethics policies and practices.
Dr. Myra D. Oruga, Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for Research and Publication, and former UPOU IREC Secretary and Independent Consultant, served as a resource speaker. She discussed the overview and history of UPOU IREC, the initial submission for ethics review for research, accomplishment of protocol, informed consent assessment forms, and ethical review of after-approval submissions for research.
Moreover, UPOU IREC Chair Assistant Professor Ria Valerie Cabanes, one of the resource speakers, actively discussed the Committee’s Standard Operating Procedures, and External and Internal Processes. She also provided the overview, timeline, Initial Submission, and Informed Consent Form for study protocols. She set an engaging tone by infusing practical applications and role-playing activities.
The workshop provided key insights into research ethics, emphasizing UPOU’s continued commitment to promoting responsible and ethical research practices. Including participants from the UPOU IREC faculty subcommittees, fostered a collective responsibility for upholding these standards, thereby advancing the integrity of both academia and society.
Written by Marian P. Tatlonghari ♦ Edited by Yasele Yambao and Primo G. Garcia ♦ Contributed by UPOU OVCAA
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