CORE PRINCIPLES
Our research policies are built on five key principles:
Academic Freedom– Encouraging independent, critical, and interdisciplinary inquiry
- Ethical Responsibility– Prioritising the well-being of research subjects, communities, and ecosystems
- Rigour & Quality– Promoting sound methodologies and peer-reviewed standards
- Integrity & Accountability– Zero tolerance for plagiarism, data falsification, or misconduct
- Inclusivity & Access– Supporting diverse voices and equitable research practices
KEY POLICY AREAS
RESEARCH ETHICS & APPROVAL
All research involving human or animal subjects, sensitive data, or community participation must undergo review and clearance by AYRA’s Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC).
Mandatory for faculty, students, and external collaborators
Includes protocols for informed consent, data privacy, and risk mitigation
Guidelines aligned with national and international ethical frameworks
KEY POLICY AREAS
PLAGIARISM & ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
AYRA follows a strict anti-plagiarism policy:
Plagiarism above accepted thresholds will result in academic penalties
Repeated violations may lead to suspension of research privileges
All final-year projects, theses, and dissertations are subject to originality verification
KEY POLICY AREAS
COLLABORATIVE & FUNDED RESEARCH
Faculty or departments entering into research collaborations must
Register all projects with the Centre for Research
Submit MoUs or contracts for institutional vetting
Ensure intellectual property rights (IPR) are clearly defined and agreed upon
Maintain transparent financial records for grant-based research
KEY POLICY AREAS
DATA MANAGEMENT & PUBLICATION
AYRA encourages responsible data use and open access publication where feasible:
Researchers must retain data securely for a minimum defined period
Data sharing must follow ethical and legal guidelines
All published work must acknowledge funding sources and collaborators
AYRA supports faculty and student publication in peer-reviewed journals
KEY POLICY AREAS
STUDENT RESEARCH CONDUCT
Students engaging in independent or supervised research are expected to:
Maintain academic honesty in writing, data use, and attribution
Submit work for plagiarism checks using university-approved tools
Seek approval for fieldwork or human subjects research
Receive mentorship and sign a code of conduct agreement for research integrity
KEY POLICY AREAS
SUPPORT & OVERSIGHT
The Centre for Research oversees policy implementation and provides:
Ethics review and clearance
Guidance on research design and funding applications
Training workshops on research methodology and ethics
Support with publication, IP, and dissemination
We see research not just as a means of knowledge generation, but as a tool for societal transformation. These policies ensure that research at AYRA is thoughtful, transparent, and transformative.
For questions, support, or to access policy documents: