UNIDEL Policies

ETHICAL POLICY ON ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND INTEGRITY

The University of Delta, Agbor Ethical Policy on Academic and Research Integrity establishes a comprehensive framework for promoting honesty, accountability, transparency and responsible conduct across teaching, research, publication, grant applications and related academic activities. Binding on staff, students and affiliates, the Policy aligns University practice with national and international standards, including NUC requirements, TETFund guidelines, COPE standards and UNESCO principles on science and scientific researchers.

The Policy seeks to prevent plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, unethical authorship and other forms of academic misconduct, while protecting the rights, dignity, safety and confidentiality of research participants and data subjects. It applies to undergraduate projects, postgraduate dissertations and theses, academic publications, conference papers, grant and fellowship applications, and institutional mechanisms for plagiarism detection, data management and ethical oversight.

A central feature is the requirement for prior ethical clearance for research involving human participants, animals, sensitive data, vulnerable groups, biological materials, audio-visual recording or other potentially sensitive activities. Informed consent, voluntary participation, confidentiality, secure data storage and clearly defined researcher accountability are emphasized. The Policy also prescribes originality thresholds, approved plagiarism-detection processes, standards for responsible use of artificial intelligence, ethical supervision, proper attribution of authorship and transparent disclosure of conflicts of interest.

For staff publications and promotion, the Policy requires credible peer-reviewed outlets, ethical authorship, verification of publications and compliance with copyright and intellectual property obligations. It also establishes Faculty Ethics Sub-Committees, the University Research Ethics Committee and an Ethical Review Appeals Board to provide review, oversight, training, appeals and institutional accountability.

Implementation is supported through policy circulation, periodic ethics training, integration of plagiarism and ethical-clearance systems into University management processes, sanctions for violations and periodic policy review. Overall, the Policy seeks to entrench a culture of integrity, fairness, accountability and excellence in UNIDEL’s academic, research and professional activities and strengthen public confidence in scholarly work.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICY

The University of Delta, Agbor Intellectual Property Policy establishes a comprehensive framework for the creation, ownership, protection, management and commercialisation of intellectual property generated through the University’s teaching, research, consultancy and development activities. Its central purpose is to promote research and innovation, clarify the rights and obligations of creators, the University and sponsors, safeguard scholarly interests, facilitate technology transfer, ensure legal compliance and distribute commercial benefits fairly.

The Policy applies broadly to staff, students, visiting researchers, contractors, consultants and other persons using University resources or participating in University-administered activities. It covers patents, copyrights, trademarks, industrial designs, plant and animal breeders’ rights, trade secrets, databases, geographical indications, utility models and know-how. Generally, the University owns IP created in the course of employment or studentship, through commissioned work, or with significant use of University resources, while specified scholarly works and qualifying student-created IP may remain with their creators.

A core requirement is early disclosure of potentially valuable IP to the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO), especially before publication or public presentation. The Policy also provides procedures for confidentiality, conflict-of-interest management, IP protection, licensing, commercialisation, assignment, start-ups, spin-offs and dispute resolution, while preserving academic freedom.

Commercialisation is guided by public interest, fairness, competitiveness and effective technology transfer. Net commercialisation income is shared among creators, their research activities, departments or centres, faculties or centres, and the University, thereby rewarding innovation while strengthening institutional research capacity.

Implementation is anchored by the Intellectual Property Board and the IPTTO, which oversees disclosure, IP audits, searches, protection, commercial evaluation, licensing, agreements, revenue distribution and industry engagement. Overall, the Policy seeks to build a strong innovation culture, protect intellectual assets, encourage productive university-industry relationships, and translate UNIDEL research and creativity into technologies, enterprises and solutions that advance institutional growth and societal development across Nigeria and the world.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION STRATEGY

The University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor International Collaboration Strategy provides a framework for strengthening the University’s global engagement in support of academic excellence, research impact and the Sustainable Development Goals. Established in 2021 on the foundation of the former College of Education, Agbor, UNIDEL combines over four decades of tertiary education experience with the dynamism of a young and rapidly growing university. It currently serves over 17,000 students and offers 91 NUC-accredited undergraduate programmes across 12 faculties.

The Strategy positions international collaboration as a key instrument for institutional development. Its approach covers staff and student exchanges, cross-border capacity building, collaborative research and innovation, joint academic and postgraduate programmes, academia–industry linkages, curriculum development, professional training, ideas incubation and research-policy engagement.

UNIDEL’s priority areas for international partnership are environmental management and sustainable development in the Niger Delta; computing, cybersecurity and digital innovation; climate change, agricultural resilience and food security; education, skills and vocational development; youth entrepreneurship, gender, poverty reduction and economic inclusion; and research-driven evidence for public policy and achievement of the SDGs.

The University offers partners a strategic location in the Niger Delta, a large and expanding student population, a broad portfolio of accredited programmes, a young and motivated faculty, gender-balanced student enrolment, substantial experience in tertiary education management and strong institutional commitment to internationalisation.

Overall, the Strategy seeks to make international collaboration a practical pathway for improving teaching, learning, research, innovation, institutional visibility and UNIDEL’s contribution to sustainable development in Nigeria, Africa and globally through mutually beneficial and enduring global partnerships.