Research Ethics Council at VNU-USSH: Agreeing on the Draft Regulations on Organization and Operation based on consultation from Indiana University (USA)

On the afternoon of July 7, 2023, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, held a meeting to report on the results achieved in developing the Draft Regulations on the organization and operation of the Research Ethics Council at VNU-USSH after working with experts from Indiana University (USA).
On the school side, there were Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Principal of the school, Dr. Trinh Van Dinh - Head of Scientific Research Management Department and leaders of Training Department, Personnel Organization Department, Cooperation & Development Department, Faculty of Anthropology, Faculty of Psychology, and Sociology.
On the side of Indiana University, there were Dr. Richard Hopper - PHER Project Director, Dr. John Baumann - Vice President for Research Compliance, Office of Research Compliance, Indiana University, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong - PHER Project Manager.
VNU-USSH constantly innovates university education management according to world standards and promotes international publication.
Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU said that with the mission of being a pioneer in training high-quality, highly qualified human resources; researching, creating and disseminating knowledge about Social Sciences and Humanities, the University always attaches importance to cooperation with international educational and research organizations and prestigious scientists. In particular, the cooperation with the PHER project (*) and Indiana University (USA) (**) is very important in learning modern educational management experience, improving the quality of higher education and accrediting training programs. Dr. Richard Hopper - Director of the PHER project welcomed the enthusiasm of the Board of Directors of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU and the staff and lecturers of VNU-USSH in actively innovating university governance according to international standards. The representative of the PHER project also committed to accompany VNU-USSH in promoting international publication activities, from which the scientific values ​​in the social sciences and humanities research of the school will be spread more strongly in the international community.
Dr. Richard Hopper emphasized that the achievements that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, has achieved and is achieving will be a valuable legacy for generations of scientists, students and trainees to access, inherit and promote.

Pioneering the construction of a model of Research Ethics Council in Vietnam
At the meeting, representatives of Indiana University highly appreciated the fact that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU is one of the pioneering universities in Vietnam to establish a Research Ethics Council.
With this new model, scientists from VNU-USSH have devoted much effort to researching and developing the Draft Regulations on the Organization and Operation of the Research Ethics Council. With the cooperation, support, and experience sharing from experts from Indiana University, after many meetings and exchanges between the two sides, the Draft has been discussed and agreed upon with many important contents. Accordingly, the Ethics Council has the function of independently assessing ethical aspects in research with human subjects. The Ethics Council consists of 9 members decided by the Rector, including the Chairman of the Council, 7 members (including 01 member outside of Hanoi National University) and the Secretary of the Council.
The Ethics Council is responsible for organizing the review and assessment of ethical aspects in research with human subjects; approving or disapproving, proposing adjustments (if necessary) to research, monitoring compliance with ethical regulations in research approved by the Ethics Council; and archiving and managing records on ethical aspects of research approved by the Ethics Council. The subjects of application are defined in the draft Regulations on the organization and operation of the Research Ethics Council as staff, lecturers, and students conducting research with human subjects managed by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU; and individuals and organizations outside the University of Social Sciences and Humanities who request and are approved by the Ethics Council for evaluation.
With such functions and tasks, the Ethics Council is a prestigious organization, a place to ensure scientific and ethical values ​​for research projects that this organization evaluates and recognizes before the international scientific 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 on the provisions in the Regulations on the organization and operation of the Research Ethics Council at VNU-USSH. PHER experts also shared their experiences so that VNU-USSH scientists could carefully prepare the conditions to comply with the evaluation criteria of the Research Ethics Council.
It is expected that after the Regulations on the organization and operation of the Research Ethics Council at VNU-USSH are issued, the PHER project representative will organize a training program for Council members and lecturers and staff of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU.
With the position of a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research university, a team of excellent and leading experts, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has developed a number of new training majors and specialties, pioneering a core role in training and researching basic sciences of the country to reach regional and international levels. Scientists of VNU-USSH have many important studies in the fields of social sciences and humanities with valuable domestic and international scientific publications. Therefore, the establishment of the Research Ethics Council as well as cooperation activities with the PHER project will contribute to exploiting the strengths of the University, further promoting the international research capacity and reputation of VNU-USSH scientists in the coming time.
Let's take a look back at some photos from the series of activities of experts from Indiana University, USA at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU recently:                              
* PHER Projectwithin the framework of the Higher Education Development Assistance Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is a 5-year initiative from 2022 to 2026 to enhance the capacity of 3 key higher education institutions in Vietnam (Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang University) to develop more sustainably and autonomously in the fields of administration, training, research and connection with businesses, meeting the demand for human resources to serve the cause of industrialization, modernization and international integration of Vietnam. The project is funded by USAID in the form of non-refundable technical assistance and assigned to Indiana University, USA as the implementing unit.
** Indiana University (IU)is a public university, deeply engaged in research in the social and scientific fields, and is a leading university in the world in medical and technological education. IU seeks dynamic and creative collaboration with local and state organizations in the fields of economic, social, and cultural development and to train leaders in solving 21st century problems with intelligent, creative solutions.

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