Overview
At RWCMD, our ambition is to create an integrated research and enterprise environment incubating new work and innovating for the arts.
Research ethics and integrity annual statement
This report outlines the work across the academic year 1 August 2024 – 31 July 2025.
1. The Concordat and RWCMD
The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama is committed to the principles of the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, which include:
- Upholding the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research
- Ensuring that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards
- Supporting a research environment that is underpinned by a culture of integrity and based on good governance, best practice, and support for the development of researchers
- Using transparent, timely, robust and fair processes to deal with allegations of research misconduct should they arise
- Working together to strengthen the integrity of research and to review progress regularly and openly.
2. RWCMD policy and procedures in relation to research integrity
The RWCMD’s commitment to the promotion and maintenance of research integrity can be found in its policies:
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RWCMD Research Ethics Framework
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The Strategic Plan
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The Strategic Equality Plan
3. Activities
Training in research ethics and integrity is delivered to undergraduates and postgraduates in modules across all departments with a research element.
Training is also delivered in modules across all departments with a research element. Ethical approval for practice-based and non-practice-based research is granted through application to the Research Ethics Committee. The Committee meets three times a year and reports to the Research and Innovation Committee.
The Research Ethics Committee has staff representation from each of the departments, as well as student representatives. The Chair of the Research Ethics Committee, Dr James Lea, serves on the Conservatoires UK Research Ethics Committee.
4. Applications received between 1 August 2024 – 31 July 2025
A light touch approval process for low-risk undergraduate projects was introduced in 2024/25. Consequently, a small number of student applications were referred to the sub-committee for approval. The majority were supervisor approved with in some cases paperwork centrally logged for the record. Given the growing number of requests for access to College student to participate in research projects, the College published guidance in order to manage expectations in relation to the support provided by the College. The College’s Research Ethics committee identified the need to update the College’s Research Ethics policy and procedure document during 2025/26 given the committee has been in operation since 2021.
Research Ethics sub-committee reports the following in relation to the ethical approval process 2024/25:
RWCMD Staff applications – 3 successful
PG students – 5 successful
UG students – 5 successful
External – 6 successful applications for access to college staff/students for surveys (supported by documented home institution and/or CUK Ethics committee ethical
5. Research misconduct
There were no formal investigations in relation to research misconduct for 2024/25.
6. Planned developments
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Align practice with CUK Ethics Committee
Continue to develop staff and student training on research ethics and integrity
Liaise with relevant departments to ensure ethical procedures are applied consistently
