Dr. Vitalis Anye
Chairman, AUST Research Ethics Committee (AUSTREC)Welcome Message from the Chairman
Dear Scholars, Researchers, Students, and Esteemed Visitors,
It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to the official web portal of the African University of Science and Technology Research Ethics Committee (AUSTREC).
At AUST, we firmly believe that impactful research and uncompromising ethical integrity go hand in hand. As our institution continues to push the frontiers of scientific discovery, technological innovation, and interdisciplinary inquiry, our commitment to safeguarding human dignity, data privacy, environmental responsibility, and scholarly honesty remains absolute.
AUSTREC was established to guide, support, and oversight the academic community in conducting research that adheres to the highest international standards. Whether you are an undergraduate student embarking on your first research project, a postgraduate scholar preparing a dissertation, or a faculty member leading a multi-institutional study, this platform is designed to serve as your primary resource for ethical compliance and guidance.
We encourage you to explore the policies, download the necessary application forms, and actively engage with our guidelines. Together, let us ensure that every discovery made at AUST is grounded in integrity and dedicated to the service of humanity.
Warm regards,
Overview of AUSTREC
The AUST Research Ethics Committee (AUSTREC) is the central institutional body responsible for the oversight, evaluation, and governance of all research activities involving human participants, data collection, institutional resources, and sensitive scientific protocols at the African University of Science and Technology.
AUSTREC works collaboratively with department leadership, faculty members, and research administrators to foster a vibrant culture of ethical awareness, procedural transparency, and accountability across all academic disciplines.
Our Mandate
The core mandate of AUSTREC is to:
Protect Research Subjects and Communities: Ensure the rights, safety, privacy, and well-being of human participants and communities involved in research studies.
Uphold Academic Integrity: Maintain standard protocols for data governance, scientific rigor, publication ethics, and intellectual property.
Promote Global Standards: Align institutional research practice with international ethical frameworks, regulatory mandates, and best practices.
Provide Ethical Oversight: Review, evaluate, and grant ethical approvals for proposed research projects across all academic programs.
Key Activities & Services
To fulfill its mandate, AUSTREC engages in the following ongoing activities:
Ethical Application Review: Evaluating research proposals submitted by undergraduate students, postgraduate scholars, and faculty researchers to ensure compliance prior to project commencement.
Policy Formulation & Updates: Continuously reviewing and updating university-wide research policies, code of practice documents, and compliance frameworks.
Advisory & Support: Offering technical and procedural guidance to researchers on data protection, informed consent, risk mitigation, and paper publication protocols.
Monitoring & Compliance: Tracking approved ongoing research projects to ensure adherence to approved ethics applications and data management plans.
Essential Guidelines & Downloadable Resources
To support our academic community in conducting compliant and high-impact research, AUSTREC provides public and institutional access to key governance documents.
All researchers are strongly advised to download, thoroughly review, and utilize these documents throughout every phase of their research journey—from project conceptualization and data collection to report writing, thesis defense, and academic publication.
A Note to Our Researchers
Ethics in research is not merely a procedural requirement; it is the cornerstone of scholarly excellence and public trust. We urge all AUST scholars, postgraduate students, undergraduate students, and visiting fellows to make diligent use of these research policies.
Familiarizing yourself with these guidelines early in your research planning will streamline your approval process, protect your research outcomes, and elevate the standard of your scientific contributions.
For further inquiries, submission of ethics application forms, or guidance on ethical compliance, please contact the committee via email at rec@aust.edu.ng or call the Office of Secretary at +234 803 419 5987.