JISC

The Research 360 project addresses the long-tail of high quality small science characterised by applied research and faculty-industry partnerships.  Our approach describes an institutional research lifecycle which reaches from project planning to data capture, data deposit, description, preservation and re-use. The project aims to meet the EPSRC Policy Framework on Research Data expectations.  Research 360 uses a multi-level planning approach to scale the RDM approach across the whole institution.  It creates a new institutional data scientist role to connect existing support services such as the Library, IT, Research office and Faculty

Aims and objectives 

1. Develop the technical and human infrastructure for research data management at University of Bath
2. Expand the principle of a 360 degree institutional lifecycle, transferable to other research intensive HEIs
3. Focus on data management and challenges arising from business and research collaborations
4. Adopt a multi level approach to planning, targeting stakeholders across RDM plans using funder’s expectations & REF as key drivers for change
5. Review institutional data management policy, including industry stakeholder requirements, ethics committees and legal services.
6. Develop an extensible technical infrastructure for RDM within the Faculties of Science and Engineering & Design, as the proof of concept for a Faculty cascade model.
7. Use Doctoral Training Centres as hubs for the development and delivery of training and advocacy modules partnered with librarians.

Project methodology

The Research 360 project builds on the I2S2 Scientific Research Activity Lifecycle Model and develops the concept of an end to end 360-degree Institutional research lifecycle. The ideas and policies developed will be piloted in the context of the University’s Doctoral Training Centers.

Prof Matt Davidson, Project Director, will provide overall project direction and relevance to research information. Dr Liz Lyon, co-director, bringing huge experience and knowledge in data management, will oversee the integration of library data management with University systems. Project management will be provided by the Data Scientist, Dr Catherine Pink, of UKOLN.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

• Draft University of Bath Research Data Management (RDM) Policy, informed by:
  o   Institutional business case for RDM with reference to the Research Excellence Framework (REF)
  o    Institutional roadmap/implementation plan for research data management which addresses funder expectations (EPSRC)
• DCC How-to Guide on Managing Faculty-Industry Research Data, informed by:
  o    Faculty-Industry Data Requirements Report
  o    Data storage guidelines for Faculty-Industry partnerships
  o    Faculty-Industry RDM Case Studies
• Research Information Management (RIM) Guidelines for Data-driven Reporting and Institutional Benchmarking
• RDM training module, released as an Open Educational Resource

Technology / Standards used

• Sakai CLE software platform
• SWORD v2
• CERIF