Kindly note that external researchers, who wish to access Mandela staff and/or students for research purposes, cannot submit such requests on MEOS, the Mandela Ethics Online System. The relevant process, outlined below, should be followed.
Information and Instructions for Researchers WITH Ethics Approval from an NHREC-Accredited Research Ethics Committee:
Researchers external to the Nelson Mandela University who HAVE obtained ethics approval from an NHREC-accredited research ethics committee, and who are requesting access to University staff and/or students for the purpose of research are required to complete and submit a request for such access a reasonable time period prior to initiating any contact with University staff and/or students. Retrospective approval of such requests is not permitted.
The procedure for requesting access to University staff and/or students for a study follows:
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Download the RECH-11 (Request to access University staff and/or students) template. The form is intended to be comprehensive in order to assist you with inclusive responses with a view to prevent any delay in the review and approval of the request.
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Complete the form in full. Provide suitable responses to each item on the form.
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Attach relevant supporting documentation and follow the instructions in the form for the submission of the completed application.
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Submit the completed request together with all relevant supporting documentation to Imtiaz.Khan@mandela.ac.za.
A copy of the following documentation is required to accompany the request for access to Nelson Mandela University staff and/or students:
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Copy of the approved research proposal which highlights the recruitment, enrolment, data collection and data analysis activities;
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Copy of the relevant non-Nelson Mandela University Human Ethics Committee letter of approval;
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Copies of the written/oral information documentation for both recruitment and enrolment;
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Copy of the consent form;
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Copies of any and all data collection materials; and
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Draft letter to Dr Thandi Mgwebi, DVC:Research, Innovation and Internationalisation (RII) at Nelson Mandela University, requesting permission to conduct the research at Nelson Mandela University (see comment below*).
*The final step, after ethics approval has been granted by the Nelson Mandela University REC-H, is the formality of obtaining institutional approval or gatekeeper permission from the DVC:RII. The researcher would be requested to send an email to dvc-rii@mandela.ac.za and attach a formal request to Prof A Muronga together with a copy of the ethics clearance letter from the registered institution, the approval letter from the Nelson Mandela University REC-H, and a copy of the proposal. All requests must have the following subject line in the email: "Gatekeeper request: First initial and Surname, Institution, ethics clearance reference number"
Information and Instructions for researchers WITHOUT ethics approval from an NHREC-Accredited Research Ethics Committee:
An application for ethics approval, the request for access to University staff and/or students form and all requisite documentation will be required for external researchers who do not have ethics approval from an NHREC-accredited research ethics committee.
The application needs to be submitted in conjunction with a Nelson Mandela University representative who fulfils the role of Primary Responsible (PRP). The PRP will need to be identified either from the “sister” department within Nelson Mandela University (if you are registered for postgraduate studies or a party with whom your research supervisor/promoter might have academic links). The PRP is able to assist in completion of forms and acts as a contact person for the distribution of communications via the Nelson Mandela University’s internal communication systems.
The procedure for requesting ethics approval from Nelson Mandela University AND access to Nelson Mandela University staff and/or students for a study follows:
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Download the RECH-001 (Ethics Application) template. This should be completed as per the process outlined on the New Ethics Application webpage. (Note: The application will NOT be submitted via the faculty representative as indicated in Point 11 of the process, but directly to Imtiaz.Khan@mandela.ac.za).
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Download the RECH-11 (Request to access University staff and/or students) template.
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Complete both forms in full. The forms are intended to be comprehensive in order to assist you with inclusive responses with a view to prevent any delay in the review and approval of the request.
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Attach relevant supporting documentation and follow the instructions in the forms for the submission of the completed application.
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Submit the completed request together with all relevant supporting documentation to Imtiaz.Khan@mandela.ac.za.