Informed Consent

Every participant will be approached for their voluntary agreement to participate in the research, and this agreement will be obtained through a meticulous process designed to ensure full comprehension of the research’s purpose, potential risks, anticipated benefits, the voluntary nature of participation, and the unequivocal right to withdraw from the study at any point without facing any adverse consequences. This process of obtaining informed consent will entail providing clear and comprehensive information to
participants in a language and format that they understand, allowing them sufficient time to consider their decision, addressing any questions or concerns they may have, and obtaining their explicit consent in writing or through another appropriate means. Additionally, participants will be informed about how their data will be collected, used, and protected, and their consent for data handling and sharing will be obtained separately from their consent to participate in the study.

Privacy and Confidentiality

The privacy and confidentiality of participants’ personal information will be treated with the utmost
importance and safeguarded through stringent measures encompassing secure handling, storage, and reporting practices that adhere to the highest standards of data protection and privacy laws and regulations. This includes implementing robust data security protocols, such as encryption and access controls, to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse of sensitive information. Furthermore, only authorized personnel directly involved in the research will have access to participants’ personal data, and any data sharing or disclosure will be conducted in accordance with participants’ explicit consent and applicable legal requirements. Measures will also be in place to anonymize or pseudonymize data whenever feasible to further protect participants’ privacy and confidentiality.

Minimization of Harm

Potential risks associated with participating in the research will be diligently identified, assessed, and mitigated through a comprehensive risk management process endorsed by the Ethics Committee overseeing the study. This process will involve conducting thorough risk assessments to identify any foreseeable physical, psychological, social, or other harms that participants may encounter as a result of their involvement in the research. Based on the findings of these assessments, appropriate measures will be implemented to minimize or eliminate these risks to the greatest extent possible, including modifying study procedures, providing additional information or support resources to participants, or establishing criteria for excluding certain individuals from participation to ensure their safety and well-being. The Ethics Committee will review and approve the risk management plan to ensure that it adequately protects participants’ rights and welfare while allowing the research to proceed in an ethical and responsible manner.

Respect for Participants

Investigators will respect participants’ values, dignity and vulnerabilities through culturally sensitive involvement and non-coercive recruitment avoiding potential conflicts of interest.

Integrity and Transparency

Research protocols, funding sources and affiliations will be disclosed transparently. Fabrication,
falsification or plagiarism of any information or processes will be considered an act of academic dishonesty.

Compliance and Oversight

All research needs Ethics Approval and is subject to compliance audits. Every research endeavor conducted within our institution is mandated to obtain Ethics Approval, a critical step that ensures adherence to ethical guidelines and standards. Additionally, to uphold the integrity of our research practices, compliance audits are regularly conducted to assess adherence to established policies and procedures. Should any concerns or ethical dilemmas arise during the course of a study, individuals are encouraged to bring these matters to the attention of the Ethics Committee, a body tasked with overseeing compliance with ethical policies and regulations. This committee serves as a forum for deliberation and resolution, ensuring that research activities are conducted ethically and accountably.

Accountability and Responsibility

Researchers are answerable for following ethical best practices and receptive to participant
queries/feedback. Researchers bear the primary responsibility for upholding ethical best practices
throughout the research process, and they are expected to be responsive to participant inquiries, concerns, and feedback. In instances where lapses in ethical conduct occur, whether through oversight or otherwise, these issues are addressed through a systematic and investigative approach. This involves conducting thorough examinations to understand the root causes of the lapse, implementing corrective and preventive actions to mitigate any harm, and holding individuals accountable for their actions or oversights.

Continuous Monitoring and Review

Ethical incidents are documented and their lessons learnt. The committee periodically examines
international standards to renew and enhance the code through sensitization workshops. Ethical incidents and lessons learned from these experiences are documented to facilitate ongoing improvement and refinement of the institution’s research ethics code. The Ethics Committee conducts periodic reviews and evaluations of the code, taking into consideration emerging ethical issues, changes in regulations, and advancements in research ethics practices. Additionally, the committee stays abreast of international standards and best practices by participating in sensitization workshops, engaging with experts in the field, and seeking input from stakeholders. Through these continuous monitoring and review processes, the institution ensures that its research ethics code remains relevant, effective, and responsive to evolving ethical considerations, thereby fostering a culture of ethical conduct and integrity in research endeavors.

Aim
The aim of this policy is to apprise students, teachers, researchers and staff about Plagiarism and how it can be avoided. It is also aimed at discouraging Plagiarism by regulating and authorising punitive actions against those found guilty of the act of Plagiarism.
Applicability:
The policy is applicable to students, teachers, researchers and staff of all institutions and organizations in MIU who are involved in writing or publishing their work. In this context a “Student” is a person who, on
the date of submission of his / her paper / work is a registered student of MIU
“Teachers and Researchers” include faculty members or equivalent of the University / Organization or/of a constituent or affiliated college or researchers of an organization and such other persons as may be declared to be so by regulations. “Staff” is any employee of MIU involved in writing and publishing his / her work.
Minimal acceptable plagiarism percentage:
For academic papers, not counting references or methods (parts of which can often be very similar to what has already been published in other papers), about 15% is acceptable at a maximum end.