At the NWU, the Integrated Research Integrity Management System (IRIMS) has, since 2022, guided all managers and researchers (academics and postgraduate students) in the Faculties to ensure Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). The session provides an overview of important concepts that ground both research ethics and research integrity within the NWU IRIMS system, as well as NWU IRIMS’s structures, processes, and procedures. The greater scientific community of an institution can only innovate and flourish when its members function together as a body that fosters a climate of Responsible Conduct of Research and ensures confidence and trust in its research practices and findings by providing clear guidelines for managing potential breaches in research integrity through transparent processes. The value and benefits of the mentioned research are vitally dependent on the research ethics practices applied during the conduct of research, as well as the integrity of the research practices followed at the institution. Research ethics is seen as a subset of research integrity, but is often confused with it.  Active adherence to ethical principles, norms, and standards, along with defined professional responsibilities, is essential for Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). Active adherence in this context means adopting these principles, norms, and standards, and treating them as personal credo in all research practices, rather than simply accepting them as impositions by rule-makers. Adhering to these research integrity practices allows the university to be at the cutting edge of research, both nationally and internationally.