The evolution of enquiry based teaching and
learning has broadened the range of research carried out by university students. As a result, the boundaries between teaching
and learning and academic research are being blurred to a degree not
experienced heretofore. This paper examines
whether research undertaken as part of course work should fall under the remit
of the research ethics committee (REC) – a question not examined in the
academic literature before now. The
paper explores this debate before determining that in-class research should be
subject to research ethics oversight.
The challenges this presents for RECs are delineated. The paper concludes by advancing potential
solutions to the problems identified.
The experiences of the authors, both of whom have served on a business
school REC for years, inform the discussion.