• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Trending:
  • Kashmir
  • Elections
Saturday, June 21, 2025

Daily Times

Your right to know

  • HOME
  • Latest
  • Iran-Israel Tensions
  • Pakistan
    • Balochistan
    • Gilgit Baltistan
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Punjab
    • Sindh
  • World
  • Editorials & Opinions
    • Editorials
    • Op-Eds
    • Commentary / Insight
    • Perspectives
    • Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Featured
    • Blogs
      • Pakistan
      • World
      • Ramblings
      • Lifestyle
      • Culture
      • Sports
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • E-PAPER
    • Lahore
    • Islamabad
    • Karachi

Following research Ethics in Universities

Higher Education enrollment in public and private Universities is increasing every year around the country. There is a need to create awareness about research ethics and academic dishonesty at all levels in these Universities. The stakeholders, i.e. students, faculty, staff, need to be apprised about the definition and manifestations of such unethical acts. Most of the time, universities give orientation to new students, which cover code of conduct for punctuality, examination, and other related matters to discipline,  but very little is shared about academic dishonesty and research ethics.

As per University regulations, i.e. Charter or Act, it is the responsibility of the institution to develop rules and regulations within boundaries of powers given to it for developing a plan for teaching, learning, examinations, and research activities. There are different structures in Universities for monitoring all academic and research activities conducted by faculty members and students. Even then, there are reports of unethical practices followed by some faculty members, scholars, and staff who are involved in research projects or tasks. In order to prevent such acts, it is mandatory to define the roles of all individuals who are part of the research project. This will also help in avoiding blame game in the future if any such matter malpractice is reported.

For creating a research environment and facilitating post-graduate level courses, Universities have Board of Advanced Studies and Research (BASR) as the standing committee in most of the Universities. It is observed that BASR is not that active in some Universities, and most of the time, only used as an approving body for academic and research matters; rather, it should be supervising and facilitating committee. There is a dire need for having professional debates on all proposals submitted for consideration to BASR; if something is not vetted in true critical style, then BASR will not help the institution in developing a quality research culture. The BASR members should be senior faculty members having a vast experience of teaching and research; they need to be trained on scientific grounds for evaluating research proposals according to the rubrics set by the respective standard associations.

The issues of authorship disputes and plagiarism can be addressed by following the policy of devising roles and responsibilities for conducting and publishing research. The mechanism for dispute resolution and grievance redressal need to be in place before the execution of any research project activities. The international standard operating procedures can be adopted as good practice for the purpose. These can be customized as well with proper permission. The time to claim against any violation, grievance, complaint, or query may be fixed to avoid unnecessary delay of processing the same.  The guidelines for research ethics can be summarized in the form of a research manual which should be made available for all those who are involved in research activities. The follow-up and supervising activities should be conducted regularly, it should be conducted in a friendly environment to guide the researchers not for penalizing them due to unintended actions done by them.

It is also required that researchers of one University may share their progress with peers from other institutions, it will help in identifying different dimensions in the research being carried out by the team who may have missed that dimension.  Although external reviewers are only involved for a Ph.D. thesis review, why not for reviewing the progress of any other research grant?  Such activities will have a positive impact on the research projects as the whole team will focus on quality research work, which is the prime objective. It is important to create an enabling environment where not only problems are identified through such interactions, but also possible solutions are also expected.

There are standing rules and policies of the Higher Education Commission as well for developing a quality research culture. All Universities are expected to follow such guidelines for researching professionally. Pakistan has the potential to rise on the horizon of research and inventions by following good practices of research. The population which is consumer these days can be converted to inventors and leaders through following such good practices.

The writer is a Dy. Director, Higher Education Commission.

Filed Under: Blogs

Submit a Comment




Primary Sidebar




Latest News

Peshawar’s plum growers face losses as heatwave ravages orchards

Pakistan refutes Indian claims, says Kashmir solution key to peace

Retired policeman arrested in pornography case in Muzaffargarh

PTI’s propaganda cell sells Indian media’s narrative, alleges Azma

Samit Ganguly exposes India’s civil-military rift after Pakistan clash

Pakistan

Peshawar’s plum growers face losses as heatwave ravages orchards

Pakistan refutes Indian claims, says Kashmir solution key to peace

Retired policeman arrested in pornography case in Muzaffargarh

PTI’s propaganda cell sells Indian media’s narrative, alleges Azma

Samit Ganguly exposes India’s civil-military rift after Pakistan clash

More Posts from this Category

Business

FBR says banks pay 53% tax on income, seeks end to special privileges

SBP injects record Rs14.3 trillion to ease cash shortage in banks

Govt secures Rs1.275 trillion Islamic loan to ease power sector debt

Govt launches Rs180mn upgrade for Skardu international airport to boost tourism and trade

IMF allows import of 5-year-old cars with higher duties from september

More Posts from this Category

World

80-year-old tech tycoon earns $40 billion in a week, now world’s 2nd richest

Europe presses Iran to resume US nuclear talks amid war fears

Putin denies mediation role in Iran-Israel tensions, says he was ‘only sharing ideas’

More Posts from this Category




punjab

Footer

Home
Lead Stories
Latest News
Editor’s Picks

Culture
Life & Style
Featured
Videos

Editorials
OP-EDS
Commentary
Advertise

Cartoons
Letters
Blogs
Privacy Policy

Contact
Company’s Financials
Investor Information
Terms & Conditions

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Youtube

© 2025 Daily Times. All rights reserved.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy