Overview
At RWCMD, our ambition is to create an integrated research and enterprise environment incubating new work and innovating for the arts.
Research ethics and integrity annual statement
This report outlines the work across the academic year 1st August 2023 – 31st July 2024.
1. The Concordat and RWCMD
The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama is committed to the principles of the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, which include:
- Upholding the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research
- Ensuring that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards
- Supporting a research environment that is underpinned by a culture of integrity and based on good governance, best practice, and support for the development of researchers
- Using transparent, timely, robust and fair processes to deal with allegations of research misconduct should they arise
- Working together to strengthen the integrity of research and to review progress regularly and openly.
2. RWCMD policy and procedures in relation to research integrity
The RWCMD’s commitment to the promotion and maintenance of research integrity can be found in its policies:
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RWCMD Research Ethics Framework
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The Strategic Plan
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The Strategic Equality Plan
3. Activities
Training in research ethics and integrity is delivered to undergraduates and postgraduates in modules across all departments with a research element.
Training is also delivered in modules across all departments with a research element. Ethical approval for practice-based and non-practice-based research is granted through application to the Research Ethics Committee. The Committee meets three times a year and reports to the Research and Innovation Committee.
The Research Ethics Committee has staff representation from each of the departments, as well as student representatives. The Chair of the Research Ethics Committee, Dr James Lea, serves on the Conservatoires UK Research Ethics Committee.
4. Applications received between 1 August 2023 – 31 July 2024
The majority of student ethical approval submissions were supervisor approved with paperwork centrally logged for the record. Research Ethics sub-committee reports the following in relation to the ethical approval process 2023/24:
RWCMD Staff applications – 3 successful
PG students – none
UG students – 4 successful
External – 3 successful applications for access to college staff/students for surveys (supported by documented home institution and/or CUK Ethics committee ethical approval)
5. Research misconduct
There were no formal investigations in relation to research misconduct for 2022/23.
6. Planned developments
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Align practice with CUK Ethics Committee
Continue to develop staff and student training on research ethics and integrity
Liaise with relevant departments to ensure ethical procedures are applied consistently
