SDU University is committed to hold highest ethical values to carry research. The aim of the Research Ethics Policy is to set out the general principles that underpin the ethical conduct of research. Researchers are expected to familiarise themselves with the university Research Ethics Policy and follow the rules and regulations to maintain good ethics practice in all aspects of their work. Human subjects research at the University is guided by the ethical principles set forth in the Belmont Report (Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research), see.

In publishing results of their research authors and other stakeholders in the process are expected to follow COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines https://publicationethics.org/guidance/Guidelines

SDU Research Ethics Review Procedure

 SDU Research Ethics Committee operates to provide feedback and clearance on possible ethical issues that may arise during the research process. We work to prevent any possible ethical issues through review of application from researchers and students. The standard procedures for ethical review are provided below. If you have other requests such as recommendations, suggestions or want to report research related misconduct, unethical behavior or other, please write directly or rethics@sdu.edu.kz.

Standard procedures to apply for ethics review:

1. To help you with the ethics review process we have prepared a short online SELF-ASSESSMENT FORM to understand whether you need review by the Research Ethics Committee or not. Please fill the SELF-ASSESSMENT FORM first.
2. Based on your answers to the survey questions, you will receive a note at the end of the survey, that ethical review is NOT REQUIRED or REQUIRED and you need to apply for Ethics Review.
3. If ethics review is REQUIRED based on the SELF-ASSESSMENT results, you must fill this ETHICS REVIEW FORM and send it to rethics@sdu.edu.kz.
4. If your research involves people, do not forget the need for an Informed Consent Form, use the provided template. Please note that if your research involves participants who are under 18 (minors), you will need the following form of Informed Consent for Parents/Guardians of Minors.
5. Make sure that you include the survey and interview questions that you will conduct during the research in the letter.
6. Upon receiving your ETHICS REVIEW FORM, the officer of the Research Ethics Committee will inform you in 10 working days about further procedures.

For doctoral students, the procedure consists of two stages. Please send the documents as follows:
1. Submit your research prior to data collection in accordance with the Standard Procedures for Applying for Ethics Review section above.
2. For students who are going to go to the defense, please provide the following documents before going to the defense (after passing the preliminary at the department):
a) Doctoral students sign a declaration and also provide a complete explanation of the methodology with self-assessment of potential risks and ways she/he minimized them (this should be a separate document called “Ethics Risk Assessment” based on methodology part of the thesis). In case of unethical conduct, the Research Ethics committee will reject the application and recommend disciplinary actions.
b) Doctoral students provide (1) full text of dissertation, (2) full texts of articles published during doctoral studies
c) The Local Supervisor provides Turnitin reports of dissertations and articles with the Conclusion that clearly states there is no plagiarism or unethical publication practices, acknowledges her/his responsibility and contains her/his signature.