Research and Development Department

Research and Development Department is a responsible of any size that initiates, coordinates and undertakes research (disciplinary, multi-disciplinary, interdisciplinary and/or thematic) processes to completion and gives feedback on new research ideas initiatives and subsequent research process improvements by involving research professionals, company research members, and stakeholders. R&DDs seize to exist as research activities come to completion and new ones sprout with new thematic researches.

Research and Development Department is organized Ethiopian Railways Corporation where research ideas are generated and developed into research concepts, proposals and projects, and the actual translation of research ideas into experimentation take place. Ideas generated, concepts developed and proposals approved are documented in the databank of the Research and Development Department. Findings and knowledge emanating from the research undertakings are disseminated through appropriate channels or patented or incubated for transfer of technology. The research units undertake continuous follow-up of the disseminated research outcomes with the purpose of improving its future research activities.

Research Guidelines

The research and technology transfer policy of ERC is supported and concretized by important guidelines to assist the research community in their execution of research. In this connection, various relevant guidelines have been developed and are being used in the management of the different research activities of the Company. These include relevant guidelines for proposal preparation, research undertaking and dissemination and technology transfer and commercialization, including the basic ethical principles involved with human subjects, in the use of animals in research, institutional issues and standards and other issues relating to intellectual property rights (IPR).

Research Proposal Preparation Guidelines

The proposal must be submitted both as a PDF and word file.

All proposals that do not meet the following requirements will not be accepted.

 

Format: Authors are asked to study the following instructions before preparation of proposals.

• Paper Size – A4 (21.0 x 29.7 cm).
• Margins – Type within the dimensions of 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins top/bottom and left/right.
• Line Spacing – Single line spacing, No indentation, Full justification.
• The proposal title should be in Title Case (upper and lower case), centered in Times New Roman, bold font size 18 point. There should be a6pt spacing between the title and the researcher.
• Researcher(s) name(s) should be typed in Title Case, centered in Times New Roman, bold font size 11 point.
• Do not include headers, footers or page numbers.

 

Body Text Formatting:

• The body text of the paper will contain headings, pictures, diagrams, tables, figures, formulae and other relevant information. The section headings should be Times New Roman 11 point bold.
• Body text should be in Times New Roman point 11 normal, with a 6pt separation between paragraphs.
• Equations should be centered and numbered consecutively with equation numbers in parentheses flush with the right margin. A spacing of 6pt between body text and equations is desirable.
• Figures: Black and white and grayscale figures (diagrams and photographs) and tables can be included anywhere in the text other than the title or researcher list. Figures should be numbered consecutively from Fig. 1 onwards. Tables should be numbered Table 1 onwards. The captions are Times New Roman 10-point italic. Ensure figures and tables are within the printable area of the page.
• Making a Reference: References in the text can be made to literature listed in the “reference” section at the end by numbering the literature with numbers in superscript.1 The references are incremented in sequence of appearance in the text. Repeated reference to the same literature can be made using the same reference number.1 In this case, the reference number will be incremented on the next new literature cited.2
• References are Times New Roman 9-point font. The format for references should be: name of authors (initials of all names then family name, authors are separated by commas), Title of book or journal name in italic, Vol. Number in bold, and year in (brackets).
• Page Number:  A maximum of 15 pages (including annexes)
• Language: Written in plain English (with no spelling errors)
• Title page:  A title page with concise title, address of applicant and names of co-investigators (if available).

 

 

Main Proposal Contents

1. Title Page:

• Title of the proposal.
• Name of the organization or individual submitting the proposal.
• Date of submission.

2. Executive Summary:

• A brief overview of the proposal.
• Highlights the main points and objectives.
• Provides a snapshot of the problem, proposed solution, and expected outcomes.

3. Introduction:

• Background information on the issue or problem being addressed.
• Purpose and significance of the proposal.
• Scope and limitations of the proposal.

4. Problem Statement:

• Clearly defines the problem or need that the proposal aims to address.
• Provides evidence and data to support the existence of the problem.

5. Objectives:

• Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives.
• Outlines what the proposal aims to achieve.

6. Methodology:

• Detailed description of the approach and methods to be used.
• Includes research design, data collection methods, and analysis techniques.
• Timeline for the implementation of the proposed activities.

7. Budget:

• Detailed breakdown of the costs associated with the proposal.
• Includes personnel, materials, equipment, travel, and other expenses.
• Justification for each budget item.

8. Evaluation Plan:

• Methods for assessing the effectiveness and impact of the proposed activities.
• Includes key performance indicators (KPIs) and evaluation criteria.
• Plan for data collection and analysis.

9. Sustainability Plan:

• Strategies for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project or initiative.
• Includes plans for securing additional funding, building capacity, and maintaining outcomes.

10. Conclusion:

• Summary of the key points of the proposal.
• Reiteration of the importance and benefits of the proposed solution.
• Call to action or request for support.

11. Appendices:

• Additional supporting documents and information.
• May include letters of support, resumes of key personnel, detailed budget tables, and other relevant materials

Research Submission Guidelines

 

All proposals that do not meet the following requirements will not be accepted.

 

Format: Authors are asked to study the following instructions before preparation of submission.

• Paper Size – A4 (21.0 x 29.7 cm).
• Margins – Type within the dimensions of 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins top/bottom and left/right.
• Line Spacing – Single line spacing, No indentation, Full justification.
• The proposal title should be in Title Case (upper and lower case), centered in Times New Roman, bold font size 18 point. There should be a6pt spacing between the title and the researcher.
• Researcher(s) name(s) should be typed in Title Case, centered in Times New Roman, bold font size 11 point.
• Do not include headers, footers or page numbers.

 

Body Text Formatting:

• The body text of the paper will contain headings, pictures, diagrams, tables, figures, formulae and other relevant information. The section headings should be Times New Roman 11 point bold.
• Body text should be in Times New Roman point 11 normal, with a 6pt separation between paragraphs.
• Equations should be centered and numbered consecutively with equation numbers in parentheses flush with the right margin. A spacing of 6pt between body text and equations is desirable.
• Figures: Black and white and gray scale figures (diagrams and photographs) and tables can be included anywhere in the text other than the title or researcher list. Figures should be numbered consecutively from Fig. 1 onwards. Tables should be numbered Table 1 onwards. The captions are Times New Roman 10-point italic. Ensure figures and tables are within the printable area of the page.
• Making a Reference: References in the text can be made to literature listed in the “reference” section at the end by numbering the literature with numbers in superscript.1 The references are incremented in sequence of appearance in the text. Repeated reference to the same literature can be made using the same reference number.1 In this case, the reference number will be incremented on the next new literature cited.2
• References are Times New Roman 9-point font. The format for references should be: name of authors (initials of all names then family name, authors are separated by commas), Title of book or journal name in italic, Vol. Number in bold, and year in (brackets).
• Page Number:  A maximum of 15 pages (including annexes)
• Language: Written in plain English (with no spelling errors)
• Title page:  A title page with concise title, address of applicant and names of co-investigators (if available).

 

Here are the main contents typically required for a research submission:

1. Title Page:

• Title of the research paper.
• Author(s) name(s) and affiliation(s).
• Date of submission.
• Contact information.

2. Abstract:

• A brief summary of the research, including the purpose, methods, results, and conclusions.
• Typically around 150-250 words.

3. Keywords:

• A list of key terms related to the research topic.
• Helps in indexing and searching for the paper.

4. Introduction:

• Background information and context for the research.
• Statement of the research problem or question.
• Objectives and significance of the study.
• Overview of the paper’s structure.

5. Literature Review:

• A review of existing research and literature related to the topic.
• Identification of gaps in the current knowledge.
• Justification for the research.

6. Methodology:

• Detailed description of the research design and methods used.
• Information on data collection and analysis procedures.
• Explanation of any tools, instruments, or techniques employed.

7. Results:

• Presentation of the research findings.
• Use of tables, figures, and charts to illustrate data.
• Clear and concise reporting of results without interpretation.

8. Discussion:

• Interpretation and analysis of the results.
• Comparison with previous research and literature.
• Implications of the findings.
• Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research.

9. Conclusion:

• Summary of the main findings and their significance.
• Restatement of the research problem and objectives.
• Final thoughts and recommendations.

10. References:

• A list of all sources cited in the paper.
• Follow a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, and Chicago).

11. Appendices (if applicable):

• Additional materials that support the research but are not included in the main text.
• Examples include raw data, detailed calculations, questionnaires, and supplementary figures

 

Basic Ethical Principles

There are a number of ethical principles that should be taken into account when performing a research. At the core, these ethical principles stress the need to (a) do good (known as beneficence) and (b) do no harm (known as non-malfeasance). In practice, these ethical principles mean that as a researcher, you need to: (a) obtain informed consent from potential research participants; (b) minimize the risk of harm to participants; (c) protect their anonymity and confidentiality; (d) avoid using deceptive practices; and (e) give participants the right to withdraw from your research

When you look at these five basic ethical principles, it may appear obvious that your research should include these. However, there are many instances where it is not possible or desirable to obtain informed consent from research participants. Similarly, there may be instances where you seek permission from participants not to protect their anonymity. More often than not, such choices should reflect the research strategy that you adopt to guide your dissertation.

Broadly speaking, your research should not only aim to do good (i.e., beneficence), but also avoid doing any harm (i.e., non-malfeasance). Whilst ethical requirements in research can vary across countries, these are the basic principles of research ethics. This is important not only for ethical reasons, but also practical ones, since a failure to meet such basic principles may lead to your research being (a) criticized, potentially leading to a lower mark, and/or (b) rejected by your supervisor or Ethics Committee, costing you valuable time.

Research should not harm participants. Where there is the possibility that participants could be harmed or put in a position of discomfort, there must be strong justifications for this. Such scenarios will also require (a) additional planning to illustrate how participant harm (or discomfort) will be reduced, (b) informed consent, and (c) detailed debriefing.

There are a number of types of harm that participants can be subjected to. These include:

• Physical harm to participants.
• Psychological distress and discomfort.
• Social disadvantage.
• Harm to participants? Financial status.
• An invasion of participants? Privacy and anonymity.

Typically, it is not harm that we need to think about since a researcher does not intentionally go out to cause harm. Rather, it is the risk of harm that you should try to minimize. In order to minimizing the risk of harm you should think about:

• Obtaining informed consent from participants.
• Protecting the anonymity and confidentiality of participants.
• Avoiding deceptive practices when designing your research.
• Providing participants with the right to withdraw from your research at any time.

 

Research and Development Department

Research and Development Department is a responsible of any size that initiates, coordinates and undertakes research (disciplinary, multi-disciplinary, interdisciplinary and/or thematic) processes to completion and gives feedback on new research ideas initiatives and subsequent research process improvements by involving research professionals, company research members, and stakeholders. R&DDs seize to exist as research activities come to completion and new ones sprout with new thematic researches.

Research and Development Department is organized Ethiopian Railways Corporation where research ideas are generated and developed into research concepts, proposals and projects, and the actual translation of research ideas into experimentation take place. Ideas generated, concepts developed and proposals approved are documented in the databank of the Research and Development Department. Findings and knowledge emanating from the research undertakings are disseminated through appropriate channels or patented or incubated for transfer of technology. The research units undertake continuous follow-up of the disseminated research outcomes with the purpose of improving its future research activities.

Research Guidelines

The research and technology transfer policy of ERC is supported and concretized by important guidelines to assist the research community in their execution of research. In this connection, various relevant guidelines have been developed and are being used in the management of the different research activities of the Company. These include relevant guidelines for proposal preparation, research undertaking and dissemination and technology transfer and commercialization, including the basic ethical principles involved with human subjects, in the use of animals in research, institutional issues and standards and other issues relating to intellectual property rights (IPR).

Research Proposal Preparation Guidelines

The proposal must be submitted both as a PDF and word file.

All proposals that do not meet the following requirements will not be accepted.

 

Format: Authors are asked to study the following instructions before preparation of proposals.

• Paper Size – A4 (21.0 x 29.7 cm).
• Margins – Type within the dimensions of 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins top/bottom and left/right.
• Line Spacing – Single line spacing, No indentation, Full justification.
• The proposal title should be in Title Case (upper and lower case), centered in Times New Roman, bold font size 18 point. There should be a6pt spacing between the title and the researcher.
• Researcher(s) name(s) should be typed in Title Case, centered in Times New Roman, bold font size 11 point.
• Do not include headers, footers or page numbers.

 

Body Text Formatting:

• The body text of the paper will contain headings, pictures, diagrams, tables, figures, formulae and other relevant information. The section headings should be Times New Roman 11 point bold.
• Body text should be in Times New Roman point 11 normal, with a 6pt separation between paragraphs.
• Equations should be centered and numbered consecutively with equation numbers in parentheses flush with the right margin. A spacing of 6pt between body text and equations is desirable.
• Figures: Black and white and grayscale figures (diagrams and photographs) and tables can be included anywhere in the text other than the title or researcher list. Figures should be numbered consecutively from Fig. 1 onwards. Tables should be numbered Table 1 onwards. The captions are Times New Roman 10-point italic. Ensure figures and tables are within the printable area of the page.
• Making a Reference: References in the text can be made to literature listed in the “reference” section at the end by numbering the literature with numbers in superscript.1 The references are incremented in sequence of appearance in the text. Repeated reference to the same literature can be made using the same reference number.1 In this case, the reference number will be incremented on the next new literature cited.2
• References are Times New Roman 9-point font. The format for references should be: name of authors (initials of all names then family name, authors are separated by commas), Title of book or journal name in italic, Vol. Number in bold, and year in (brackets).
• Page Number:  A maximum of 15 pages (including annexes)
• Language: Written in plain English (with no spelling errors)
• Title page:  A title page with concise title, address of applicant and names of co-investigators (if available).

 

 

Main Proposal Contents

1. Title Page:

• Title of the proposal.
• Name of the organization or individual submitting the proposal.
• Date of submission.

2. Executive Summary:

• A brief overview of the proposal.
• Highlights the main points and objectives.
• Provides a snapshot of the problem, proposed solution, and expected outcomes.

3. Introduction:

• Background information on the issue or problem being addressed.
• Purpose and significance of the proposal.
• Scope and limitations of the proposal.

4. Problem Statement:

• Clearly defines the problem or need that the proposal aims to address.
• Provides evidence and data to support the existence of the problem.

5. Objectives:

• Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives.
• Outlines what the proposal aims to achieve.

6. Methodology:

• Detailed description of the approach and methods to be used.
• Includes research design, data collection methods, and analysis techniques.
• Timeline for the implementation of the proposed activities.

7. Budget:

• Detailed breakdown of the costs associated with the proposal.
• Includes personnel, materials, equipment, travel, and other expenses.
• Justification for each budget item.

8. Evaluation Plan:

• Methods for assessing the effectiveness and impact of the proposed activities.
• Includes key performance indicators (KPIs) and evaluation criteria.
• Plan for data collection and analysis.

9. Sustainability Plan:

• Strategies for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project or initiative.
• Includes plans for securing additional funding, building capacity, and maintaining outcomes.

10. Conclusion:

• Summary of the key points of the proposal.
• Reiteration of the importance and benefits of the proposed solution.
• Call to action or request for support.

11. Appendices:

• Additional supporting documents and information.
• May include letters of support, resumes of key personnel, detailed budget tables, and other relevant materials

Research Submission Guidelines

 

All proposals that do not meet the following requirements will not be accepted.

 

Format: Authors are asked to study the following instructions before preparation of submission.

• Paper Size – A4 (21.0 x 29.7 cm).
• Margins – Type within the dimensions of 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins top/bottom and left/right.
• Line Spacing – Single line spacing, No indentation, Full justification.
• The proposal title should be in Title Case (upper and lower case), centered in Times New Roman, bold font size 18 point. There should be a6pt spacing between the title and the researcher.
• Researcher(s) name(s) should be typed in Title Case, centered in Times New Roman, bold font size 11 point.
• Do not include headers, footers or page numbers.

 

Body Text Formatting:

• The body text of the paper will contain headings, pictures, diagrams, tables, figures, formulae and other relevant information. The section headings should be Times New Roman 11 point bold.
• Body text should be in Times New Roman point 11 normal, with a 6pt separation between paragraphs.
• Equations should be centered and numbered consecutively with equation numbers in parentheses flush with the right margin. A spacing of 6pt between body text and equations is desirable.
• Figures: Black and white and gray scale figures (diagrams and photographs) and tables can be included anywhere in the text other than the title or researcher list. Figures should be numbered consecutively from Fig. 1 onwards. Tables should be numbered Table 1 onwards. The captions are Times New Roman 10-point italic. Ensure figures and tables are within the printable area of the page.
• Making a Reference: References in the text can be made to literature listed in the “reference” section at the end by numbering the literature with numbers in superscript.1 The references are incremented in sequence of appearance in the text. Repeated reference to the same literature can be made using the same reference number.1 In this case, the reference number will be incremented on the next new literature cited.2
• References are Times New Roman 9-point font. The format for references should be: name of authors (initials of all names then family name, authors are separated by commas), Title of book or journal name in italic, Vol. Number in bold, and year in (brackets).
• Page Number:  A maximum of 15 pages (including annexes)
• Language: Written in plain English (with no spelling errors)
• Title page:  A title page with concise title, address of applicant and names of co-investigators (if available).

 

Here are the main contents typically required for a research submission:

1. Title Page:

• Title of the research paper.
• Author(s) name(s) and affiliation(s).
• Date of submission.
• Contact information.

2. Abstract:

• A brief summary of the research, including the purpose, methods, results, and conclusions.
• Typically around 150-250 words.

3. Keywords:

• A list of key terms related to the research topic.
• Helps in indexing and searching for the paper.

4. Introduction:

• Background information and context for the research.
• Statement of the research problem or question.
• Objectives and significance of the study.
• Overview of the paper’s structure.

5. Literature Review:

• A review of existing research and literature related to the topic.
• Identification of gaps in the current knowledge.
• Justification for the research.

6. Methodology:

• Detailed description of the research design and methods used.
• Information on data collection and analysis procedures.
• Explanation of any tools, instruments, or techniques employed.

7. Results:

• Presentation of the research findings.
• Use of tables, figures, and charts to illustrate data.
• Clear and concise reporting of results without interpretation.

8. Discussion:

• Interpretation and analysis of the results.
• Comparison with previous research and literature.
• Implications of the findings.
• Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research.

9. Conclusion:

• Summary of the main findings and their significance.
• Restatement of the research problem and objectives.
• Final thoughts and recommendations.

10. References:

• A list of all sources cited in the paper.
• Follow a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, and Chicago).

11. Appendices (if applicable):

• Additional materials that support the research but are not included in the main text.
• Examples include raw data, detailed calculations, questionnaires, and supplementary figures

 

Basic Ethical Principles

There are a number of ethical principles that should be taken into account when performing a research. At the core, these ethical principles stress the need to (a) do good (known as beneficence) and (b) do no harm (known as non-malfeasance). In practice, these ethical principles mean that as a researcher, you need to: (a) obtain informed consent from potential research participants; (b) minimize the risk of harm to participants; (c) protect their anonymity and confidentiality; (d) avoid using deceptive practices; and (e) give participants the right to withdraw from your research

When you look at these five basic ethical principles, it may appear obvious that your research should include these. However, there are many instances where it is not possible or desirable to obtain informed consent from research participants. Similarly, there may be instances where you seek permission from participants not to protect their anonymity. More often than not, such choices should reflect the research strategy that you adopt to guide your dissertation.

Broadly speaking, your research should not only aim to do good (i.e., beneficence), but also avoid doing any harm (i.e., non-malfeasance). Whilst ethical requirements in research can vary across countries, these are the basic principles of research ethics. This is important not only for ethical reasons, but also practical ones, since a failure to meet such basic principles may lead to your research being (a) criticized, potentially leading to a lower mark, and/or (b) rejected by your supervisor or Ethics Committee, costing you valuable time.

Research should not harm participants. Where there is the possibility that participants could be harmed or put in a position of discomfort, there must be strong justifications for this. Such scenarios will also require (a) additional planning to illustrate how participant harm (or discomfort) will be reduced, (b) informed consent, and (c) detailed debriefing.

There are a number of types of harm that participants can be subjected to. These include:

• Physical harm to participants.
• Psychological distress and discomfort.
• Social disadvantage.
• Harm to participants? Financial status.
• An invasion of participants? Privacy and anonymity.

Typically, it is not harm that we need to think about since a researcher does not intentionally go out to cause harm. Rather, it is the risk of harm that you should try to minimize. In order to minimizing the risk of harm you should think about:

• Obtaining informed consent from participants.
• Protecting the anonymity and confidentiality of participants.
• Avoiding deceptive practices when designing your research.
• Providing participants with the right to withdraw from your research at any time.