Ethical aspects of research involving human participation and preparation of the application for an ethics assessment

The Research Ethics and Integrity Unit of the University of Ljubljana provides training on research ethics and integrity for researchers of the University of Ljubljana. Co-organised with University Office for Doctoral Studies, a training on the ethics of research involving human subjects and on the preparation of the application for an ethics assessment of proposed research will be held on 30 March 2026 at 3.30 pm at the University of Ljubljana'sAssembly Hall (Zbornična dvorana), Kongresni trg 12. 

The main aim of the training, which is specifically aimed at PhD students and early career researchers, is to raise awareness of the ethical aspects of research involving human subjects and to promote the responsible conduct of such research, including through practical insights into the successful preparation of applications for ethical assessment by relevant committees at the level of the University and of the UL members.* In Part 1, the basic ethical elements of research involving human participation will be presented (informed consent, protection of personal data, specific challenges regarding vulnerable groups, incidental/accidental findings etc.). In Part 2, we will look at the concrete steps involved in the successful preparation of an application for ethical review (forms, instructions, concrete advice and the most common mistakes in the application process) and at the ethical assessment criteria and procedure by the University Ethics Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects (KERL UL). Part 3 will be specifically devoted to concrete examples and discussion of open questions and dilemmas that participants face in their research projects and in the preparation of their applications.

* This does not include medical research (research involving patients), as the ethics assessment of which is not performed by university or faculty ethics committees, but exclusively by the National Medical Ethics Committee.

The workshop will be linguistically hybrid (with oral presentation in Slovenian (supported with live translation into EN), visual presentation (ppt) in English, and the third part – discussion in both languages) and delivered by Prof. Dr. Nina Peršak and Dr. Mirjam Fröhlich.

You can register for the workshop HERE until 20 March 2026. In order to make the workshop as effective and useful as possible, please indicate any specific question or dilemma you are facing or are interested in regarding the topic of the workshop (e.g. regarding the preparation of your application for an ethics assessment) when you register (in the special box at the end of the workshop). If you are unable to attend the workshop despite having registered, we would ask you to kindly withdraw your registration as soon as possible in order to give others in the waiting list the opportunity to attend the workshop.

A certificate of attendance will be issued to the attendees.