The Impact-Ed Ethical Research Learning Suite · In Development
A practical, role-based learning module for students, educators, supervisors and researchers.
Current status
ImpactEd is developing the Ethical Research in the Age of AI learning suite and welcomes conversations with higher education providers interested in helping to shape a future institutional pilot.
Discuss an institutional pilotThe institutional challenge
Higher education institutions are navigating rapidly evolving expectations around research integrity, responsible AI, ethical decision-making and regulatory assurance. Providing consistent, practical and institutionally relevant learning across diverse cohorts is increasingly important.
The ImpactEd Ethical Research Learning Suite has been designed to help institutions provide a shared foundation in ethical research while recognising the distinct responsibilities of students, educators, supervisors and researchers.
Every participant begins with a shared foundation, then moves into one of three role-specific pathways. The structure supports a common institutional language while recognising different decisions, responsibilities and points of risk. It is designed to strengthen judgement, constructive discussion and confidence in seeking advice.
Shared foundation
The shared foundation establishes the concepts and language participants need to consider ethical questions across the research lifecycle, including where AI may influence decisions, methods and accountability.
What makes research ethical
Research ethics and research integrity
Ethical decision-making
Respect, benefit, justice and research merit
Risk, harm and responsibility
Consent and participant autonomy
Privacy, confidentiality and data protection
Conflicts of interest
Authorship, attribution and acknowledgement
Fabrication, falsification and misrepresentation
Responsible use of AI across the research lifecycle
When and where to seek advice
Three role-specific pathways
Each pathway builds on the shared foundation and brings the ethical questions closer to the participant’s role, context and institutional responsibilities.
For students completing coursework research and honours projects. This pathway addresses participant recruitment and consent, data collection and secure data handling, responsible AI-assisted research, invented references, attribution, and knowing when to seek ethical advice.
For people guiding student and researcher practice. This pathway addresses supervisor responsibilities, recognising ethical issues, setting appropriate project boundaries, supporting ethical decision-making, conversations about AI use, confidential information, authorship expectations and institutional referral pathways.
For people designing, conducting and communicating research. This pathway addresses research design, proportional risk, participant relationships, research data, collaborative research, conflicts, authorship, publication and peer review, as well as AI-assisted analysis and writing, disclosure, accountability and maintaining the research record.
Institution-ready customisation
Each institutional version can be customised so participants can relate the shared principles to local expectations, review pathways and sources of support.
The agreed configuration will reflect the institution’s context. Customisation does not represent an assurance of compliance or a particular regulatory outcome.
Module at a glance
The suite is intended for institutional use across student, educator, supervisor and researcher audiences. Any future institutional version would be configured with the institution.
The planned delivery model is self-paced online learning through the institution’s Learning Management System, supported by organisation-specific customisation and implementation support.
Completion time and delivery arrangements are indicative while the module and future pilot arrangements are being developed. Specific technical packaging would be agreed during future institutional scoping.
How Impact-Ed works
Four connected stages keep the work grounded in institutional context and open to thoughtful improvement.
We begin with the institution’s context, priorities and intended audiences.
We shape the emphasis and learning experience around the agreed institutional context.
We work with the institution to consider how the learning will be introduced and supported.
We review agreed feedback and identify opportunities to strengthen future delivery.
Clear scope
The ImpactEd Ethical Research Learning Suite is not described as approved, certified or endorsed by TEQSA, NHMRC, ARC or any institution. It supports institutional learning and discussion; it does not replace an institution’s policies, ethics-review processes or access to appropriate specialist advice.
Discuss a future institutional pilot
Tell us about your audiences, current learning provision and the institutional context the module would need to reflect.
