The University’s ethics forms have been updated to ensure compliance with GDPR regulations.

Questions concerning data protection have been embedded into the forms directly, thereby consolidating the new requirements into the existing ethics process. This ensures that researchers are processing and storing their research data securely while alleviating the need to fill out a separate Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) form.

As part of the review, we have also created a more consistent approach across BSREC (Biomedical and Scientific Research Ethics Committee) and HSSREC (Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee), regarding both documentation and process. Both committees now use the same application forms and template documents. BSREC has moved to reviewing applications by committee meetings, in line with HSSREC. Both committees now also have a harmonised review process for amendments and secondary data. This ensures that researchers across all faculties are subject to the same robust ethical review process.