Following a successful implementation of RCP’s Research Ethics for International Collaboration short course in the major cities of Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in December of 2018, the KSA Ministry of Education invited AAAS RCP back to run the course in the northern and southern cities of Tabuk and Abha, respectively, in March 2019. RCP has worked with the Ministry’s Research and Development Office (RDO) to build research capacity and competitiveness across the country. With a special focus on early career faculty, the Research Ethics course has reached over 200 faculty and academic leaders in over 26 Saudi colleges and universities.
This RCP course is designed to promote responsible conduct of research by addressing knowledge gaps in key topics in research ethics, developing strategies to proactively prevent ethical violations, and empowering participants to address issues and concerns that arise within their scientific communities. Through RDO, long-term impacts will be assessed with course participants and their institutions, and AAAS is looking forward to supporting the development of a sustainable ecosystem in STEM research and training in Saudi Arabia.
RCP instructors, Drs. Heather McInnis and Irene Aninye leading a review of case studies in Tabuk (top left). RDO Director-General Dr. Hisham Alhadlaq addresses the group in Abha (bottom left). Participants engage in group exercises (bottom-center and right).