About

Processes to facilitate research activities during the Covid-19 Pandemic is under the remit of the Research Business Continuity Team (RBCT).

Research Continuity - Recent Updates

June 21 - Travel

• International travel for research is restricted and must be justified and essential.
• Prior approval by the Head of College is required - a Letter of Assurance from the Head of School/RICU must be provided to the College (along with the Covid-19 Response Plan and Risk Assessment) for prior Approval.
• Researchers must be aware of and keep up to date with Dept. Foreign Affairs Covid-19 travel advice - https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/coronavirus/
• See further guidance from the RBCT - Travel Guidelines for Research-Related Activities
• Researchers must ensure they are aware of and comply with local restrictions in place at their destination, along with quarantine, Covid-19 testing, documentation and travel insurance requirements.
• Further details are given in Guidelines for Research Involving Participants and Guidelines for Fieldwork Research Activities

Update May 21

• While the government have announced that national restrictions are being eased from 10th May 2021 (see here), access to campus and research activities continues to be on a restricted basis. See https://www.ucc.ie/en/emt/covid19/campus-latest/ for further institutional Covid-19 guidelines at this time.
• All research activities must continue to be conducted remotely as much as possible, and all research activities (access to campus, fieldwork (non-human studies) and research involving participants - Research at Interface with Society, face-to-face contact and/or volunteers on Campus) must be essential and justifiable.
• Prior approval for all research activities must be attained by Heads of Units - Heads of Schools/RICUs, and where delegated by the Heads of Departments/or equivalent. In some cases approval will be required by the Head of College. See further details regarding approval, including a flowchart, in Research Continuity Approval & Reporting Processes.
• With the easing of restrictions nationally in May 21, researchers are not required to submit the additional Justification for Continuation of Essential Research during Level 5 Restrictions 2021 forms at this time (unless otherwise decreed by the College). This situation will be reviewed in line with the national situation/guidelines. Researchers should note however that all research activities must continue to have prior approval at this time - they must continue to submit and get approval for the relevant Covid-19 Response Plan Documentation see  .

Revised Approval Process for Research Continuity - April 21

• As of April 2021, the RBCT have new/revised approval and reporting processes to allow for greater local flexibility, responsiveness, and responsibility for continuation of essential research, while maintaining necessary College and Institutional oversight.
• While the Heads of College (HoC) and the Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRI) will have oversight over the RBCT Approval Process, in practice, and going forward, the principle of subsidiarity means that approval will be delegated, for the most part, to the Heads of Units - Heads of Schools/RICUs, and where delegated to the Heads of Departments/or equivalent.

Terms of reference

• Researchers – refers to all research personnel: research postgraduates, medical researchers, post-doctoral researchers, research technical/support staff, research assistants, research managers, PIs/supervisors/mentors, research administrators, senior research/academic staff, Heads and management of Departments/Units/Schools/RICUs/College. 
• Where research is deemed essential and justified, the following RBCT processes below will apply to all Researchers (as defined above) during the Covid-19 Pandemic.