*The contents of this page is at the time of the call for Research Proposals FY2023.

The research project applicant (in the case of Japanese-French joint research proposals, the PI from Japanese side) must complete the educational program for research integrity as a prerequisite for application. Note that if completion of the program cannot be confirmed, the application will be disqualified for failing to meet the requirements (For the CREST program, enrollment in and completion of the research integrity educational program by the time of application is not a prerequisite for Co-PI applicants).

How to enroll the program

To enroll in the educational program for research integrity and to submit a declaration of completion, follow either procedure (1) or (2) below. For application instructions using e-Rad, please refer to the e-rad user manual.

(1) For applicants who have completed an equivalent program at their institution

Applicants, who have already completed an e-learning program or educational seminar on various aspects of research integrity (including eAPRIN (ex-CITI Japan) e-learning program and JSPS e-Learning Course on Research Ethics) at your institution by the time of their application, are requested to make the declaration of it on the e-Rad application information input screen.

(2) For applicants who have not completed an equivalent program at their institution (including for applicants at institutions that do not have such a program)

a. Applicants who have in the past completed eAPRIN (ex-CITI Japan) e-learning program in a JST program.

Applicants who have in the past completed eAPRIN (ex-CITI Japan) e-learning program in a JST program by the time of their application are requested to make the declaration of it on the e-Rad application information input screen.

b. For other applicants for whom a. above does not apply.

Applicants who find it difficult to enroll in the educational program for research integrity because their institution does not offer such a program or for other reasons may enroll in and take a digest version of eAPRIN (ex-CITI Japan) offered through JST. Please attend from the URL below. No cost is needed for completing the program, which will take one to two hours to complete.
Course URL: https://edu2.aprin.or.jp/ard/

Flow chart for declaring enrollment and completion of the educational program for research integrity.

Enrolling in eAPRIN e-learning program (ex-CITI Japan) after selection

JST requires researchers of CREST, PRESTO, and ACT-X research projects to enroll in and complete designated units of the eAPRIN (ex-CITI Japan) e-learning program. All researchers of an accepted proposal, including CREST Co-PIs, are required to complete the designated units of the eAPRIN (ex-CITI Japan) e-learning program (excluding those who have already completed the seven designated modules at their institution or in another JST program).

Contact for consultation on the educational program for research integrity

Japan Science and Technology Agency
Department of Legal Affairs and Compliance, Research Integrity Division
E-mail: rcr-kousyu[at]jst.go.jp
※replace [at] to @

Q&A

What content must be included in the educational program for research integrity that is conducted by affiliated institutions?
Educational programs for research integrity are the responsibility of each research institution. JST does not specify the specific teaching material to be used in those programs.

(Reference)
According to the “Guidelines for Responding to Misconduct in Research Activities” (August 26, 2014, adopted by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Sciences and Technology), which were effective as of April 2015, research institutions are required to implement a structure for preventing misconduct, such as the installation of a Research Integrity Education Manager, and to conduct education at the institutional level. Further, the allocating institution is also required to confirm researcher enrollment in the institution’s research integrity education program.
Note however that the details in the above guidelines focus on misconduct in academic papers and does not cover bioethics and conflicts of interest, which are different topics. If you have any questions, please contact the JST Office of Research Integrity.

Japan Science and Technology Agency
Department of Legal Affairs and Compliance, Research Integrity Division
E-mail: rcr-kousyu[at]jst.go.jp
※replace [at] to @

Is it necessary to submit documentation certifying completion of an educational program for research integrity?
No, submission is not necessary.
Is it necessary to declare the Confirmation Report Number when you take the eAPRIN (ex-CITI Japan) digest version through JST when it is difficult to take a research ethical education program at the institution?
There is no need to declare the Confirmation Report Number for applications for CREST, PRESTO, and ACT-X. Please select "eAPRIN (ex-CITI Japan) digest version completed" in the input field of the course status in e-Rad system.
Since I have not taken the program offered by my institution, I am planning to enroll in the digest version of eAPRIN e-learning program (ex-CITI Japan). What options are there if my native language is not Japanese, which makes taking the course in Japanese difficult?
An English translation of the digest version of eAPRIN (ex-CITI Japan) e-learning program has been published and posted on the Invitation for Proposal website.