Research Ethics Council at VNU-USSH: Unifying the Draft Regulations on organization & operation on the basis of consulting from Indiana University (USA)

On July 7, 2023, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU held a meeting to report on the results obtained on the development of the Draft Regulation on the organization & operation of the Research Ethics Council at VNU-USSH after working with experts from Indiana University (USA).
There was attendance of Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Principal of the school, Dr. Trinh Van Dinh - Head of the Scientific Research Management Department, and head of Training Department, Personnel Department, Cooperation & Development Department, Faculty of Anthropology, Faculty of Psychology and Faculty of Sociology.
On the side of Indiana University were Dr. Richard Hopper - PHER Project Manager, Dr. John Baumann - Vice President of Research Compliance, Office of Research Compliance, Indiana University, and Ms. Nguyen. Thi Lan Huong - PHER Project Manager.

At the meeting, Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU said, with the mission to take the lead in training high-quality and highly qualified human resources; researching and spreading knowledge on social sciences and humanities, the University always attaches importance to cooperation with international educational and research institutions and prestigious scientists. In particular, cooperation with the PHER project (*) and Indiana University (USA) (**) is very important in learning the modern educational administration experience, improving the quality of education and accredit training programs.

Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU said that the university always attaches importance to cooperation with international educational and research organizations, prestigious scientists, including cooperation with the PHER project and Indiana University (USA).

Dr. Richard Hopper - Project Director of PHER welcomed the enthusiasm of the Board of Directors of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU and VNU-USSH staff and lecturers in actively renewing university governance according to international standards. The representative of the PHER project also committed to accompany VNU-USSH in promoting international publication activities, so that the scientific values in social science and humanities research of the university will be strongly spread. stronger in the international community.
Dr. Richard Hopper emphasized that the achievements that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU has been achieving will be a valuable legacy for generations of scientists, students, and trainees to continue onward.

At the meeting, the representative of Indiana University highly appreciated the fact that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU is one of the pioneer universities in Vietnam in implementing the establishment of the Ethics Council in Research.
With this new model, VNU-USSH scientists have devoted a lot of effort to research and develop the Draft Regulation on organization & operation of the Research Ethics Council. Along with the cooperation, support, and experience sharing from Indiana University experts, after many meetings and exchanges between the two sides, the Draft was discussed and agreed upon with many important contents.

Accordingly, the Research Ethics Council has the function of independent evaluation of ethical aspects in research with human subjects. The Council consists of 9 members who are decided by the Rector, including the Chairman, 7 members (including 1 member outside Hanoi National University), and the Secretary of the Council.
The Council is responsible for organizing the review and evaluation of ethical aspects in research with human subjects; approving, or disapproving, recommending adjustments (if necessary) to studies, monitoring compliance with ethical regulations in research approved by the Council; conducting archives and records management of the ethical aspects of research approved by the Research Ethics Council.

The subjects of application defined in the draft Regulations on organization and operation of the Research Ethics Council are officials, lecturers, and learners who conduct research with human research subjects under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU management; individuals and organizations outside the University of Social Sciences and Humanities who have requested and approved the evaluation by the Research Ethics Council.
With such functions and tasks, the Research Ethics Council is a prestigious organization that ensures the scientific and ethical values of research works that this organization appraises and recognizes before the international science community.

At the meeting, lecturers and staff of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU had many discussions with experts of the PHER project about the provisions of the Regulation on organization and operation of the Research Ethics Council at VNU-USSH. PHER experts also shared experiences so that VNU-USSH scientists carefully prepared the conditions to match the evaluation criteria of the Research Ethics Council.
It is expected that, after the Regulation on organization and operation of the Ethics Council in Research Ethics Council at VNU-USSH is promulgated, the representative of the PHER project will organize a training program for Council members and lecturers of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU.
With its position as a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research university, with a team of excellent and leading experts, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has developed a number of new training disciplines and majors, pioneering in the field of science and technology while playing a pivotal role in training and researching basic sciences of the country at regional and international level. VNU-USSH scientists have many important researches in the fields of social sciences and humanities with valuable national and international scientific publications. Therefore, the establishment of the Research Ethics Council as well as cooperation with the PHER project will contribute to exploiting the strengths of the University, further promoting the international research capacity and prestige of the University. VNU-USSH scientists in the near future.
Let's take a look at some memorable activities of experts from Indiana University, USA at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU:                    

At the meeting on the afternoon of July 7, 2023, the Draft Regulation on organization and operation of the Research Ethics Council at VNU-USSH was discussed and agreed upon on the basis of advice from experts from Indiana University (USA) and the PHER  project.    
From July 6 to 7, 2023, many consultations from international experts were discussed at the meeting with VNU-USSH's Board of Directors and lecturers.  
June 2023: At a meeting with representatives of Indiana University, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities had discussions and received advice from international experts on the establishment of the Research Ethics Council in the university research - a new model in Vietnam.

March 2023: Representatives of the University of Social Sciences & Humanities and the PHER Project discussed many cooperation issues in the activities of improving the research capacity and international publication of the university's lecturers.