Business Development Plan: Sunny Hostel in Malta - MBA Project

This project presents a comprehensive business development plan for a student hostel, named Sunny Hostel, in Malta. The project begins with an ethical approval application form, outlining the research's rationale and ethical considerations, emphasizing the use of secondary data and adherence to academic integrity. The project aims to address the high demand for student accommodation in Malta by providing a cost-effective and socially engaging hostel experience. It includes a detailed market analysis, exploring the potential for a student hostel to capitalize on Malta's tourism and student population. The plan covers the hostel's concept, target market, and justification for its viability, supported by data on Malta's tourism and housing market. The business development proposal topic selection form outlines the project's scope, data sources, and the hostel's unique selling points, focusing on social interaction, value for money, and a range of amenities. The ethical considerations are addressed, ensuring that the research adheres to ethical standards, with a focus on data privacy and avoiding harm to participants, given that the research relies on secondary data. The project seeks to provide a comprehensive framework for developing a successful student hostel in Malta, addressing both business and ethical dimensions.

Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM
Approval Code:
E1- APPLICATION FORM FOR APPROVAL TO CONDUCT RESEARCH
BUSINESS SCHOOL ETHICS COMMITTEE
Dept/School
and unit
code:
Please select Postgraduate Project Undergraduate Project
(Double click on the box then click ‘Checked’ for a cross to appear in the box)
Project Title:
Researchers
Name(s):
Supervisor(s):
Date:
Applications should be submitted electronically to the Secretary of the School Research Ethics Committee as one single
file. One original hard copy must also be submitted with the signatures of all applicants and Supervisors.
Rationale: Please give a BRIEF description of the project in ‘lay language’. This summary will be reviewed by UREC
and may be published as part of its reporting procedures.
Ethical Considerations: Please give a BRIEF description of the ethical considerations of this project. Please mention
questions raised specifically in the form and, where appropriate, show that the basic ethical criteria have been met in
any use of (a) participant information sheets (b) consent forms (c) debriefing procedures.
This summary will be forwarded to and reviewed by UREC and may be published as part of its reporting procedures.
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Developing A Student Hostel Concept In Malta: A Case Study of Sunny Hostel
75 words max.-approx 5 lines (for database reasons). Detail should be provided in Q. 27
This project intends to establish a student’s hostel in Malta to offer cost effective accommodation to the numerous students who
visit Malta for educational purposes. More importantly, the hostel intends to encourage social interaction between guests by
providing extensive common areas with cool interior designs and interesting activities for guests to mingle and thereby make the
most out of the time that they spend in Malta. Furthermore, the hostel will provide value for money, while offering a wide range of
amenities and accommodation options.

Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM
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75 words - approx 5 lines (for database reasons). Elucidation, if required, can be given in Q. 27.
The project will not involve any human participants or animals for the collection of the data or the information required for its
completion. More importantly, since the entire project will depend on secondary sources and secondary data analysis therefore
the researcher will abide by the ethical standards of academic research work. For example, due credit would be given to the
authors or scholars whose works are being used for the completion of the work and also the guidelines of plagiarism will be
strictly followed.

Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM
Section A: PROJECT INFORMATION
1. Estimated start date.
When do you plan to begin your project?
2. Estimated duration.
How long do you think it will take?
3. Does this research proposal involve...
3a. Potential conflicts of interest, eg. roles in research, intellectual property,
responsibilities of funders, research with policy or other social implications etc? No
3b. Only unpublished data obtained with the permission of the owner/archive curator? No
3c. Primary data collection (obtained through interviews, surveys, observation, etc...)? No
If you answer ‘YES’ to any of these questions (3a 3b or 3c), you should elaborate in Q27.
4. Is this research proposal exclusively concerned with...
Only published secondary data sources (eg, material already in the public domain)*? *Yes
*If you answer ‘YES’ to Q4, go directly to Q. 26, and Q. 27 
5. Your informants...
5a. Who are the intended participants? (eg. students)
5b. How will you recruit them?
6. Estimated duration of participants’ involvement...
(Eg, questionnaire 10 mins, Interview 20 mins, etc.)
7. Location of Research/Fieldwork to be conducted:
7a. Where will you conduct your research? (eg, LRC foyer)
7b. Do you need to secure permission to conduct research at this location? Yes *No
*If you answered ‘NO’, say why permission is not needed.
8. Is this research funded by an external sponsor or agency?
Yes No
If ‘YES’ please provide the name(s) and elaborate in Q. 27
Section B: ETHICAL CHECKLIST
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Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM
For Qs 9-21, tick the box to show if your answer is YES, NO or Not Applicable. Please elaborate in Q. 27 if necessary.
If you tick ‘NO’ to any question 9-21, please give a brief explanation in Q. 27.
If you answer ‘YES’, it must be clearly illustrated in the relevant paperwork which must be attached
(ie, Participant Information Sheet, Consent Form, Debriefing Form, Questionnaires, Advertisement, etc…)
9. Have you obtained permission to access99 the site of
research?
If YES, provide the name, position and
business address of the person. Also, give
the name of the organisation.
A letter of confirmation is to be attached
to this form.
Yes No N/A
10. Does this research entail collaboration with other researchers?
If YES, provide the names and institutions of your collaborators.
11. Collaborative projects.
11a. If the research is collaborative, have you considered issues to do with roles in
research publication strategies/authorship?
11b. If the research is collaborative, have you devised a framework to ensure that all
participants are given appropriate recognition in any outputs?
12. Volition. Will you tell participants that their participation is voluntary?
13. Informed Consent. Will you describe the procedures to participants in advance so that
they can make an informed decision about whether or not to participate?
14. The right to withdraw. Will you tell participants that they may withdraw from the
research at any time and for any reason, without having to give an explanation?
15. Written consent. Will you obtain written consent from participants?
16. Recording. If the research involves making recordings (manuscript, digital, audio or
video), will you ask participants for their consent to be observed, videoed or taped?
17. Confidentiality. Will you tell participants that their data will be treated with full
confidentiality and that if published, it will not be identifiable as theirs?
18. Data Security. Will participants be clearly informed of how the data will be stored, who
will have access to it, and when the data will be destroyed?
19. Debriefing. Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation, i.e. give them a
brief explanation in writing of the study?
20. Omission. With interviews and questionnaires, will you give participants the option of
omitting questions they do not want to answer?
21. Relationships. Are any of the participants in a dependent relationship with the
investigator (eg lecturer/student)?
If YES, please give full explanation in Q27.
Section C: RISK AND SAFETY
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Yes No N/A

Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM
For Qs 22-25, tick the box to show if your answer is YES, or NO. You should elaborate in Q. 27 where appropriate.
Yes No
22. Deception. Will your project involve deliberately misleading participants in any way?
If YES, explain in Q. 27 why it is necessary and how debriefing will occur.
23. Risk to Participant(s). Is there any realistic risk to any paid or unpaid participant, field
assistant, helper or student involved in the project? (Nb, ‘risk’ means experiencing any
physical, psychological distress or discomfort)
If YES, please explain in Q.27, saying what you will do if they should
experience any problems, eg who to contact for help.
24. Risk to Researcher(s) Is there any realistic risk to the investigator?
If YES, have the appropriate risk assessment forms been submitted to
the appropriate Safety Committee(s)?
25. Risk of Harm or Damage. Do you think the results of your research have the potential to
cause any damage, harm or other problems for people in your study area?
If YES, explain in Q. 27 why it is necessary and how debriefing will occur
Section D: WORKING WITH CHILDREN/VULNERABLE PEOPLE
For Qs 26a-g, tick the box to show if your answer is YES, or NO. You must elaborate in Q. 27 any ‘YES response in this section.
26. Vulnerable individuals. Do participants in this study fall into any of the following special groups?
If they do, please tick the appropriate answer, refer to the relevant guidelines and complete Q.27.
Yes No
a. Children (under 18 years of age). 
b. People with learning or communication difficulties. 
c. Patients (including careers of NHS patients). 
d. People in custody. 
e. Institutionalised persons. 
f. People engaged in illegal activities, eg drug-taking. 
g. Other vulnerable groups.
(please specify) 
There is an obligation on the Lead Researcher & Supervisor to bring to the attention of the School Ethics Committee
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Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM
(S.E.C.) any issues with ethical implications not clearly covered by the above checklist.
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Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM
Section E: ETHICAL STATEMENT
27. Write a clear but concise statement of the ethical considerations of this project, clearly stating how you intend
to address each of them.
The major ethical consideration that the researcher will keep into perspective during the completion of the project is to give due
credit or recognition to the authors or the scholars whose works are being used for the completion of the project. The researcher
intends to accomplish this by using in-text citations of the references or works which are used at the appropriate places. More
importantly, the researcher also intends to abide by the stipulations of plagiarism and will also ensure that the research work
conducted by him is in accordance with the norms of plagiarism.
28. Assuring Confidentiality. As we regard informants’ consent to be finite, please say how and where you will
store your data (to guard against accidental data loss) and the date by which your data will be destroyed
(usually, within 6 months after the completion of your course).
Protecting data
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Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM
Section E: DECLARATION
I, the researcher declare that...
(i) I am familiar with the ……………... (insert appropriate guidelines for your discipline,
eg BPS, ESRC, BAAL, MRC and ASA) Guidelines for Ethical Research Guidelines
for Research practices, and I have discussed them with all researchers
involved
in this project.
(ii) I have attached all relevant paperwork linked to this project.
(Nb, supervisors may need to seek guidance before giving approval.)
(iii) I understand that any substantive changes to this proposal will require
a new application to the School Ethics Committee.
Researcher(s)
Signature
Date
Supervisors must ensure they have read both the application and the guidelines before signing below.
Supervisor(s)
Signature
Date
O F F I C I A L U S E O N L Y
STATEMENT OF ETHICAL APPROVAL
This project has been considered using agreed University Procedures and has been:
Not Approved Approved
More Clarification Required
New Submission Recommended
Referred to UREC
Convener’s Name
Signature
Date:
Adapted by TM Nov 2011 from: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/utrec/SCHOOLFORMS/index.shtml
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No Yes
No Yes
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No Yes
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