Podcasts

New infoKit gives UK researchers the opportunity to reduce admin burden

18 April 2011

A new research information management infoKit is being launched today which will benefit the UK’s 30,000* researchers by offering guidance and examples of best practice on preparing for the research excellence framework.

The infokit has been developed by Jisc and Jisc infoNet in conjunction with a number of universities who have worked to identify the issues and challenges they current face within their research teams in managing the research lifecycle from bidding for a grant through to publication.

Josh Brown digital infrastructure programme manager at Jisc explains: “The current situation for UK universities is a very mixed picture depending upon the type of higher education institution, but what they all have in common is the need to deliver information and data on research happening within their organisations to funders and increasingly to businesses who are looking to work with them to commercialise commissioned work.”

At the moment there is no common standard across the UK research community to manage their information. Many institutions have created their own bespoke systems to meet their needs and this infoKit highlights many of the emerging trends. For example the universities featured show there is particular value of adopting common standards such as CERIF or shared services such as the Jisc and HEFCE-funded Research Management and Administrative System (RMAS), which is modular enabling universities to create a cradle-to-grave research information system.

Steve Bailey senior advisor at Jisc infoNet who has developed the infoKit says: “What we have learnt through the case studies and our research is that by investing in general good practice which fits you and your institution it is likely to become easier to comply with REF as you will have the bedrock of systems and processes in place to meet the internal and external requirements for your institution. It is also clear that there is a strong business case for the cost savings and avoidance of duplication with universities to adopt a research information process.

“The infoKit provides a very real look at the challenges and lessons learnt that researchers and their intuitions are going through in terms of their information management. Previous research has have found that by adopting a research information management approach universities can save approximately 20/30 per cent on complying with returns for the research excellence framework and when each submission costs over £1000 per researcher that is a significant saving.”

The infoKit will be updated and evolve as Jisc gains additional insight from its projects and the requirements of the REF become clearer.