Research Policy

1. Purpose

To ensure that research including surveys, interviews and evaluation studies involving staff and students at CIT, CIT's agents or related parties, conform to accepted ethical standards and meet CIT requirements.

2. Scope

This policy covers research involving CIT, or its agents or related parties, irrespective of the location where the research is conducted, excluding CIT College evaluations conducted for continuous improvement of subjects and courses.

3. Principles

3.1 Research must conform to the guidelines in the CIT Research Handbook.

3.2 Research proposals with more than a low risk require approval by the CIT Research Ethics Committee.

3.3 Approval will not be granted for research proposals determined to impact negatively on CIT.

3.4 Research conducted by and or involving staff and /or students of:

3.4.1 CIT must seek advice from the Head of Department, CIT Education Quality regarding its planning, design and implementation and have approval of the respective College Head of Department;

3.4.2 CIT's third party providers delivering CIT's Higher Education programs must have the organisation's approval and must notify CIT before undertaking the research;

3.4.3 CIT's agents or related parties including external researchers must have the approval of the Head of Department, CIT Education Quality.

3.5 Colleges may conduct surveys as the basis for continuous improvement such as subject evaluations or to address a specific client group or need.  These surveys must be run at times that do not clash with CIT wide surveys.

3.6 Staff must ensure that information systems and records are maintained, securely and confidentially as necessary to prevent unauthorised or fraudulent access to private or sensitive information, including information where unauthorised access may compromise academic or research integrity.

3.7 Findings from research, evaluation studies and surveys will be formally recorded and reported to relevant stakeholders.

4. Documentation

Legislation

Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT)

Information Privacy Act 2014

Children and Young People Act 2008 (ACT)

Related Policies, Guides and Resources

The Code of Practice for the Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) drawn from the code of ethics of the Australian Association for Research in Education

National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007 (updated May 2018)

Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015

Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015

CIT Research Handbook

CIT Application to Conduct Research Form

CIT Research Ethics Committee Terms of Reference

5. Definitions

All terminology used in this policy is consistent with definitions in the CIT Policy Glossary.

6. Policy Contact Officer

For more information regarding this policy contact Director, Education Services.

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

7. Procedures

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