Research and Ethics Policy

1. Purpose

This policy establishes the principles, responsibilities, and procedures for conducting ethical and responsible research at CIT. It applies to research conducted by CIT staff and students, as well as external researchers collaborating with CIT or seeking to research CIT students, staff, data or facilities. It is designed to support all forms of research within CIT as well as research in partnership with industry and universities.

2. Scope

2.1 This policy covers the following:

2.1.1 CIT staff and students conducting research within CIT or externally as part of CIT studies
2.1.2 CIT staff conducting research within CIT as part of their studies at another educational institution
2.1.3 external researchers conducting research at CIT
2.1.4 research conducted in partnership with industry, universities, and government (Commonwealth, State, Territories and international governments)

2.2 This policy is guided by the principles outlined in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research, Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities, Delivering Indigenous Data Sovereignty, Framework for Governance of Indigenous Data, Australian Privacy Principles, and the ACT Public Sector Integrity Framework.

3. Principles

Ethical Research Conduct

3.1 Researchers must be truthful and transparent in proposing, conducting, and reporting research. This includes accurately presenting data, acknowledging limitations, and avoiding fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation of results.

3.2 Research must be conducted with intellectual and methodological thoroughness and rigour. This means using appropriate and validated methods, maintaining high standards in data collection and analysis, and ensuring conclusions are supported by evidence.

3.3 Researchers must be transparent and openly share their research processes, findings, and data management practices. This includes clear documentation of methodologies, data sources, and analytical techniques, as well as making data available where appropriate.

3.4 All individuals involved in research—whether as participants, collaborators, or co-researchers—must be treated equitably and with respect. Contributions should be acknowledged appropriately, and opportunities for involvement should be inclusive and free from discrimination or exploitation.

3.5 Researchers must uphold the dignity, rights, and cultural values of all participants. This includes obtaining informed consent, protecting privacy, and being sensitive to cultural, religious, and social contexts. Special care must be taken when working with First Nations peoples, ensuring culturally safe and respectful practices.

3.6 All individuals who have made a significant intellectual or practical contribution to the research must be appropriately acknowledged. This includes authorship, acknowledgements, and citation of prior work.

3.7 Researchers are accountable for the integrity of their work and its impact. This includes adhering to institutional policies, ethical guidelines, and legal requirements, as well as addressing any issues or breaches that arise.

3.8 Researchers must actively foster a culture of ethical research. This includes mentoring, training, and supporting good research practices, as well as encouraging open dialogue about ethics and integrity.

3.9 Researchers must acknowledge the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in any aspect of their research. As well as applying the above principles to AI, researchers must be specifically mindful of, and remediate, the risks of using a third-party tool including managing privacy concerns and avoiding any potential risks of exposing intellectual property. Researchers must follow CIT’s AI guidance and the ACT Government’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy and AI Assurance Framework (applicable to ACT Government staff). External researchers must also follow their home institution’s AI policies.

Ethical Conduct Requirements

3.10 Researchers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that participants are not exposed to unnecessary physical, psychological, emotional, economic, or spiritual harm. This includes conducting risk assessments, implementing safety protocols, and designing research activities that minimise discomfort, disruption, or inconvenience. Special consideration must be given to vulnerable populations and sensitive topics.

3.11 Before involving individuals in research, researchers must obtain their voluntary, informed consent. This means clearly explaining the purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits of the research in language that is understandable to participants. For participants under the age of 18, consent must be obtained from both the participant and their primary caregiver or legal guardian. Consent forms must outline the right to withdraw at any time without penalty and provide contact details for the researcher and their supervisor.

3.12 Researchers are responsible for protecting the privacy of participants and maintaining the confidentiality of all data collected. Personal information must be stored securely, anonymised where possible, and only accessed by authorised personnel. Data must be retained for a minimum of seven years and destroyed in accordance with legal and ethical standards. Researchers must comply with both Commonwealth and ACT privacy legislation.

3.13 Research involving First Nations peoples must be conducted in a culturally respectful and inclusive manner. Researchers must engage with communities, seek appropriate permissions, and ensure that research methods and language are culturally safe. Ethical guidance must be informed by Section 4.7 of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research, Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities, Delivering Indigenous Data Sovereignty, and the Framework for Governance of Indigenous Data.

3.14 Researchers must identify and disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that may influence the research process or outcomes. This includes financial interests, personal relationships, or affiliations that could compromise objectivity. Conflicts must be managed transparently and in accordance with CIT’s policies to maintain the integrity of the research. Researchers must advise CIT if any changes to conflicts of interest occur during the research.

3.15 All research must be conducted with integrity and professionalism. Researchers must avoid misconduct such as plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of data, and failure to comply with ethical approvals. Researchers must accurately attribute authorship, acknowledge contributions, and adhere to copyright and intellectual property laws. Breaches will be addressed in line with CIT’s disciplinary procedures and national guidelines.

3.16 Researchers must ensure that their work complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), and relevant ACT legislation. This includes obtaining copyright clearances for third-party materials, respecting data protection principles, and adhering to legal requirements for working with minors and vulnerable populations.

Approval Process

3.17 All research must be approved prior to commencement. Approval (unless exempt as in 3.18) is required for any research by CIT students, CIT staff, external organisations or partnerships with external organisations.

Exemptions from Approval

3.18 The following research is exempt from approval:

3.18.1. national surveys such as Employer Satisfaction Surveys, Student Outcomes Survey, Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching
3.18.2. routine CIT snapshot student surveys
3.18.3. use of publicly available or archived data.

External Researchers

3.19 External researchers must secure formal ethics approval from the human research ethics committee of their home institution before initiating any research activities at CIT.
3.20 External researchers must gain endorsement from CIT’s Executive Branch Manager, Audit, Risk and Corporate Governance who also acts as CIT’s Senior Executive Responsible for Business Integrity Risk (SERBIR).
3.21 Prior to commencing research, external researchers are required to submit to CIT a complete set of documentation as detailed in the associated procedures.

Partnerships with Industry and Universities

3.22 All research partnerships must be governed by clear agreements that specify the roles and responsibilities of each party, including who will lead the research, manage data, and oversee ethical compliance.

3.23 Partnerships must be established prior to research commencement.

3.24 CIT requires that all partners in a research collaboration adhere to the same high standards of ethical conduct. This includes compliance with relevant legislation, institutional policies, and national codes of research ethics. CIT will not participate in partnerships where ethical standards are compromised or inconsistently applied.

3.25 Research proposals involving external organisations must include a clear strategy for obtaining formal permission to conduct research within those organisations.

3.26 Research proposals involving external organisations must clearly delineate copyright and intellectual property via formal approved agreements that need to be submitted as part of the application.

Monitoring and Reporting

3.27 Researchers are required to maintain ongoing communication with CIT throughout the duration of their project. This includes:

3.27.1 promptly reporting any significant changes to the research plan, methodology, or any incidents that may affect the integrity or ethical conduct of the project
3.27.2 submitting a comprehensive final report upon the completion of the research—this report should detail the outcomes of the project and outline plans for dissemination of findings
3.27.3 informing CIT immediately if the research project is discontinued or terminated prior to completion
3.27.4 fully complying with CIT’s established monitoring and review processes to ensure continued ethical oversight and accountability.

Data Management and Dissemination

3.28. Researchers must adhere to rigorous standards for data management and dissemination to uphold ethical and legal responsibilities including CIT’s data governance and management framework. Specifically:

3.28.1 where appropriate, research data and publications should follow the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) to promote reproducibility, innovation, and collaboration, while respecting confidentiality, intellectual property, and contractual obligations
3.28.2 researchers must comply with open access requirements of funding bodies, Memorandum of Associations or Collaboration Agreements, unless a valid exemption applies
3.28.3 for research involving First Nations peoples or Indigenous data, researchers must adhere to the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) in addition to the AIATSIS Code of Ethics
3.28.4 digital dissemination must occur via secure and trusted platforms, with de-identification, encryption, and access controls where required in line with ACT Government’s Protective Security Framework for Information Security, Essential Eight Compliance and CIT's Cyber Security guidance
3.28.5 all research data must be stored securely for a minimum period of five years following the conclusion of the project, according to CIT’s data retention policies
3.28.6 confidentiality and data security must be maintained in all forms of reporting and communication, ensuring that personal or sensitive information is protected
3.28.7 research findings should be disseminated in a manner that is both ethical and transparent, reflecting integrity and respect for participants and stakeholders.

3.29 A digital copy of the final research report must be submitted to the CIT Research and Ethics Committee for inclusion in the CIT Research Repository to support institutional knowledge sharing and future research initiatives (ensuring any sensitive data is de-identified before submission)—researchers may request an exemption from publication if the project is highly sensitivity or confidential for which even a generalised/de-identified summary would not be appropriate.

Appeals, Complaints and Breaches

3.30 Any appeal, complaints or allegations of breaches related to research conduct, or any appeal regarding the approval process, will be managed in accordance with the following:

3.30.1 principles of natural justice and confidentiality, ensuring that all parties are treated fairly, with due process and respect for privacy throughout the investigation
3.30.2 CIT’s internal procedures for handling complaints including relevant policies and the ACTPS Integrity Framework
3.30.3 Guide to Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research to reference a nationally consistent approach.

4. Documentation

CIT Policies

Other

5. Definitions

All terminology used in this policy is consistent with definitions in the CIT Definitions of Terms.

6. Policy Contact Officer

For more information about this policy contact Executive Director, Education Futures and Students.

Contact CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188 or email infoline@cit.edu.au for further information.

7. Procedures

This policy is implemented through the associated procedures. Authority to make changes to the procedures rests with the policy owner.

POLICY INFORMATION

Policy No: 2016/587
Approved: February 2026
Next Review: February 2029
Category: Student policies
Policy Owner: Executive Director, Education Futures and Students

PROCEDURES/DOWNLOADS

Research Procedures
(MS Word Document 127.6 KB)