Format: Live instructor-led online training via Zoom / Microsoft Teams

Research Ethics and Compliance Training Course

Course Introduction

The Research Ethics and Compliance Training Course is designed to equip participants with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in ethical research conduct, regulatory compliance, responsible research practices, and governance frameworks that ensure the integrity, credibility, and accountability of research activities. In today's increasingly regulated and evidence-driven environment, organizations, academic institutions, government agencies, and development partners require research professionals who can conduct studies in accordance with ethical standards, legal requirements, and international best practices. This course provides participants with practical competencies in research ethics principles, ethical review processes, informed consent procedures, data protection, and compliance management systems.

The course focuses on the essential components of research ethics and compliance, including principles of ethical research conduct, protection of human participants, confidentiality and privacy requirements, research integrity, ethical approval processes, regulatory frameworks, data management standards, and responsible dissemination of research findings. Participants will gain practical experience in identifying ethical risks, managing compliance requirements, and applying ethical principles throughout the research lifecycle to ensure high-quality and responsible research practices.

As institutions increasingly emphasize accountability, transparency, and compliance with national and international research standards, competencies in research ethics and compliance have become indispensable for researchers, monitoring and evaluation specialists, healthcare professionals, academicians, policy analysts, and development practitioners. This training emphasizes ethical decision-making, participant protection, risk management, institutional governance, and regulatory compliance approaches that strengthen organizational credibility, enhance stakeholder trust, and improve the quality and impact of research outcomes.

Through presentations, practical exercises, simulations, collaborative discussions, and real-world case studies, participants will develop competencies necessary to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate research activities in accordance with ethical and regulatory requirements. Upon completion of this course, participants will be capable of applying research ethics principles effectively, managing compliance obligations, safeguarding research participants, and promoting integrity and accountability in research and evidence-generation processes.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1.     Understand the principles and foundations of research ethics and compliance.

2.     Apply ethical principles in the design and implementation of research studies.

3.     Protect the rights, safety, dignity, and welfare of research participants.

4.     Develop and implement informed consent and confidentiality procedures.

5.     Identify and manage ethical risks and compliance requirements in research activities.

6.     Apply national and international regulations governing research conduct.

7.     Ensure responsible data management, privacy, and information security practices.

8.     Promote research integrity and prevent research misconduct.

9.     Prepare ethical review applications and compliance documentation.

10.  Utilize ethical and compliance frameworks to improve research quality and accountability.

Organizational Benefits

Organizations that invest in this training will benefit by:

1.     Strengthening ethical governance and accountability systems.

2.     Enhancing compliance with national and international research standards.

3.     Improving the quality, credibility, and integrity of research activities.

4.     Strengthening participant protection and risk management practices.

5.     Enhancing institutional reputation and stakeholder confidence.

6.     Supporting evidence-based decision-making and responsible research practices.

7.     Building staff competencies in ethics and regulatory compliance.

8.     Reducing legal, ethical, and reputational risks associated with research activities.

9.     Improving data protection, confidentiality, and information management systems.

10.  Promoting a culture of integrity, transparency, and continuous organizational learning.

Target Participants

This course is designed for researchers, academicians, postgraduate students, monitoring and evaluation specialists, healthcare professionals, ethics committee members, program managers, project officers, policy analysts, government officials, consultants, development practitioners, data managers, research coordinators, and professionals responsible for conducting research, managing compliance requirements, protecting research participants, and supporting evidence-based decision-making.

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Research Ethics and Compliance

1.     Principles and concepts of research ethics and compliance

2.     Historical development of research ethics and ethical standards

3.     Importance of ethics in scientific research and evidence generation

4.     International ethical guidelines and regulatory frameworks

5.     Roles and responsibilities of researchers and institutions

6.     General Case Study: Assessing ethical challenges in a multi-stakeholder public health research project

Module 2: Ethical Principles and Protection of Research Participants

1.     Principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice

2.     Rights and welfare of research participants

3.     Vulnerable populations and special ethical considerations

4.     Risk assessment and harm minimization strategies

5.     Confidentiality and privacy protection requirements

6.     General Case Study: Protecting vulnerable populations in community-based research studies

Module 3: Informed Consent and Ethical Review Processes

1.     Principles and procedures of informed consent

2.     Preparing consent forms and participant information sheets

3.     Ethical review committees and institutional review boards

4.     Preparing ethical approval applications and supporting documents

5.     Monitoring ethical compliance during research implementation

6.     General Case Study: Developing informed consent procedures for a nationwide survey

Module 4: Research Integrity and Responsible Conduct of Research

1.     Principles of research integrity and professional responsibility

2.     Preventing plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification of data

3.     Responsible authorship and publication practices

4.     Managing conflicts of interest and ethical dilemmas

5.     Promoting transparency and accountability in research activities

6.     General Case Study: Addressing allegations of research misconduct and developing corrective measures

Module 5: Data Protection and Regulatory Compliance

1.     Principles of research data management and governance

2.     Data privacy, confidentiality, and information security requirements

3.     Regulatory requirements for data collection and storage

4.     Compliance monitoring and documentation procedures

5.     Managing ethical and legal risks associated with data handling

6.     General Case Study: Developing data protection protocols for a digital research project

Module 6: Ethics Monitoring, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement

1.     Monitoring compliance throughout the research lifecycle

2.     Managing ethical incidents and reporting requirements

3.     Conducting ethics audits and compliance assessments

4.     Developing institutional ethics and compliance frameworks

5.     Promoting ethical culture and continuous improvement initiatives

6.     General Case Study: Designing an institutional research ethics and compliance management system

General Information

1.     Customized Training: All our courses can be tailored to meet the specific needs of participants.

2.     Language Proficiency: Participants should have a good command of the English language.

3.     Comprehensive Learning: Our training includes well-structured presentations, practical exercises, web-based tutorials, and collaborative group work. Our facilitators are seasoned experts with over a decade of experience.

4.     Certification: Upon successful completion of training, participants will receive a certificate from Foscore Development Center (FDC-K).

5.     Training Locations: Training sessions are conducted at Foscore Development Center (FDC-K) centers. We also offer options for in-house and online training, customized to the client's schedule.

6.     Flexible Duration: Course durations are adaptable, and content can be adjusted to fit the required number of days.

7.     Onsite Training Inclusions: The course fee for onsite training covers facilitation, training materials, two coffee breaks, a buffet lunch, and a Certificate of Successful Completion. Participants are responsible for their travel expenses, airport transfers, visa applications, dinners, health/accident insurance, and personal expenses.

8.     Additional Services: Accommodation, pickup services, freight booking, and visa processing arrangements are available upon request at discounted rates.

9.     Equipment: Tablets and laptops can be provided to participants at an additional cost.

10.  Post-Training Support: We offer one year of free consultation and coaching after the course.

11.  Group Discounts: Register as a group of more than two and enjoy a discount ranging from 10% to 50%.

12.  Payment Terms: Payment should be made before the commencement of the training or as mutually agreed upon, to the Foscore Development Center account. This ensures better preparation for your training.

13.  Contact Us: For any inquiries, please reach out to us at training@fdc-k.org or call us at +254712260031.

14.  Website: Visit our website at www.fdc-k.org for more information.