JISC

The aim of this project is to scope and develop a pilot research data management infrastructure for the University of Essex.  The project will take both a top-down approach to develop policy, policy implementation plans, guidance and advocacy and a bottom-up approach through close working with pilot academic research-rich departments and preparing and ingesting samples of representative research data into a test-bed repository.

Aims and objectives 

The aim of this project is to scope and develop a pilot research data management infrastructure for the University of Essex.  This will strengthen research capacity at Essex, widen the availability of data resources, and improve local attitudes towards managing and sharing research assets. 

The project will take both a top-down approach to develop policy, policy implementation plans, guidance and advocacy and a bottom-up approach through working with research-active pilot departments to audit their data management. Samples of representative research data will be ingested into a test-bed Eprints repository.  The project will present a business case for sustainability with associated costing information.

Project methodology

The project will draft an institutional data management policy, a policy statement to meet the requirements of EPSRC-funded research, and a policy implementation report. The project will provide a university-wide support ‘hub’ and capacity building programme for good data management, an advocacy strategy, will work with three pilot departments to undertake a data audit and implement data management support tools and bespoke training for each department.  It will set up a test infrastructure by installing an EPrints instance for data, trial deposit and ingest of a selection of representative data from pilot departments, and prepare top-level metadata.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

•  high-level institutional data management policy for the University of Essex and associated guidance
• policy strategy to meet the requirements of the EPSRC
• central help desk, supporting web pages and a model Data Management Resources Library
• programme of workshops for local researchers and support staff
• Essex Data Manager’s Forum
• report from data audits with pilot departments
• EPrints instance for sample data, user guide and report on the technical environment  and use of DataCite DOIs
• business case for sustainability of data management infrastructure with associated costing information
• an implementation strategy and procedures plan

Technology / Standards used

• Dublin core
• DDI
• SWORD 2 protocol
• Datacite
• Cerif