1. Laurian Williamson 25 March 2013
RDM Service Models Research Data Management at the University of Nottingham The challenges and institutional risk
Laurian Williamson
25 March 2013
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

2. Who we are
ADMIRe – A Data Management Infrastructure for Research Data Management
Infrastructure
Tools
Policies
Who we report to internally:
Project team
Steering Group
First project focusing on RDM
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

3. University of Nottingham
Research portfolio worth over £300 million
200 industrial sponsors of research
Campuses in Malaysia and China
44,000 students (9,000 postgraduates)
2,600 funded research projects
2,500 career researchers
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

4. 71% externally funded, 29% internal
Research Funding
71% externally funded, 29% internal
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

5. Some early challenges…
CIO left
Information Services ‘de-converged’
Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research newly appointed
Low awareness of RDM
Cultural organisational change
RDM Policy ‘in limbo’
RDM not a priority issue
Research data management is only one of many issues currently bombarding the sector (the REF, the Finch Report and its recommendations, HEFCE’s open access consultation, changes to RCUK policy on open access
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

6. Requested by steering group
Minimal model to match compliance requirements and pragmatic models for delivery:
Minimal
Mediated
Consultancy
Assumptions
The activities identified are a complete summary of funders’ requirements
The activities, leadership and support roles identified are acceptable as a basis for the service
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

7. Core service activities Level 1 Minimal Level 2 Mediated Level 3
Consultancy
Data Management Plans
PI with website guidance
Training, advocacy & some one-to-one
Tailored approach, subject-specific advice & training
Active data management & storage
IT Support, Schools & PI (ad hoc)
Tailored approach & subject-specific advice
Data archive & preservation
IT Services with IT Support
Tailored approach & subject-specific/funder requirements
Data sharing & publishing
Training, advocacy, CPD at UoN
Tailored approach & on-going training
Copyright & IPR
Training, CPD at UoN
Compliance & reporting
PI responsible
Institutional overview & mechanisms
Systemised reporting
Website advice and self-supporting
Focused support and capacity building
Consultancy, subject-specific and embedding
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

8. Benefits & risks – Level 1 Minimal
Institutional Benefits:
No additional resource required
Engages IT Support strongly with the research community
Institutional Risks:
PI led, so assumes a level of competence & understanding
Transfers administrative tasks to PI, reducing time for research
PI has to find multiple sources of information & people
No provision for awareness and advocacy
RDM website will need regular updating reflecting sector change
All reporting & compliance is reliant upon PIs
No capacity building within Schools
Presumes RDM skills are already embedded within IT Support roles
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

9. Systematic training & awareness
RDM service scope – Level 2
General queries
(new)
Complex queries
(existing)
Research
Support
TBC
2.0 FTE
DMPs
IT Support
Active research
Storage
Data sharing
Backup
RDM
Compliance
Archive
OA & Open agenda
Advocacy
BEIS
Research outputs
Research impact
IPR etc.
Contractual issues
Compliance
Publication
Copyright
Systematic training & awareness
Licencing
Legal
11/16/2018
Event Name and Venue

10. Benefits & risks – Level 2 Mediated
Institutional Benefits:
Systematic advocacy, training & awareness sessions
RDM website managed and updated
Targeted RDM services for RCUK & research priorities
Embedded subject-specific expertise increases over time
Reduces time taken for DMPs & improves quality
Team facilitates reporting & compliance
Dedicated staff provide RDM landscape awareness
Institutional Risks:
Mediated service, demand may exceed capacity (e.g. DMPs)
Staff up-skilling required prior to service launch
Additional resource will be required (2.0 FTEs minimum)
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

11. Faculty model – Level 3 MHS Science CAS Arts Eng. Soc. Sci.
Prioritise:
Faculties via % of grants
Research and Knowledge Transfer Priority Areas
Only RCUK/EU/NHS
Arts 1%
Soc. Sci. 6%
Faculty based or central
Proposal review (Faculty based)
DMP review (RDM team)
MHS
35%
Science
34%
Eng.
25%
CAS
11/16/2018
Event Name and Venue

12. Benefits & risks – Level 3 Consultancy
Institutional Benefits:
All benefits from Level 2
Capacity building and dedicated Faculty representatives
High degree of subject-specific advice
RDM website would include tailored advice
Clear overview of research projects & compliance to mandates
Improvement in quality of DMPs and proposals
Institutional Risks:
Recruiting subject-specific RDM expertise
Requires embedding at Faculty or School level (but may already exist in some areas e.g. Life sciences)
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

13. As it stands
Funders’ and institutional requirements are not being met with the current provision (25% write DMPs)
Level 1, 2 or 3 service would meet funders’ requirements with various levels of quality and future-proofing
Researchers’ expectations indicate a desire for training and support beyond website advice and self-supporting
No significant RDM skills amongst support services staff
Competitor institutions have invested in RDM:
Edinburgh
Bristol
Manchester
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

14. Moving forward Pre-requisites for any service: An approved RDM policy
Development of the technical RDM infrastructure (IT Services)
Transitional RDM support service from ADMIRe to long-term
ADMIRe is delivering elements for a Level 2 service:
Researcher engagement (DMPs, pilots, survey, promotion)
Technical & preservation requirements
RDM website
Advocacy, events & awareness
Training for staff & researchers
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

15. RDM process ownership:
RGS
Policy perspective and driven by compliance
Financial focus on the proposal stage
IT Support
Already carrying out components of RDM e.g. storage
Recognised as experts in certain areas e.g. data security
LRLR
Recognised RDM expertise & activities (ADMIRe)
Strengths in OA & research communications
Distributed – PI or School as owners
Pockets of activity & high subject expertise
Low awareness of RDM as a whole
No department has engaged systematically
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

16. Resourcing Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Process and website adopted and promoted
Support staff up-skilling
Level 2
2.0 FTEs additional minimum
Researcher training & awareness
Level 3
3.5 FTEs additional minimum
Embed within Faculty and at School level to build capacity
Assumption: after 2-3 years PIs will be familiar with RDM – dedicated FTEs could be reduced
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

17. RDM service timeline Level 1
RDM policy draft
Approved
Policy framework
Requirements
Technical Infrastructure
Mock-up
Development & testing
Pilot infrastructure
RDM infrastructure
RDM service
Website phase I & II
Website update
Researcher training/awareness
Publicise website
RDM capability & training
Online training creation
Compliance & cost
PI led
Pilot DAF & DMPs
ADMIRe
Full service
Transition
Jun 2013
May 2015
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

18. RDM service timeline Level 2
RDM policy draft
Approved
Policy framework
Requirements
Technical Infrastructure
Mock-up
Development & testing
Pilot infrastructure
RDM infrastructure
RDM service
Website phase I & II
Website update & subject-specific RDM guidance
Researcher training/awareness
Events, focus groups, drop-in sessions, DMP clinics etc.
RDM capability & training
Online, face-to-face, workshops & courses
Compliance & cost
Monitoring data related activity & reporting on funding
Pilot DAF & DMPs
Pilots to assess queries & cost
RDM service
ADMIRe
Transitional service
Full service
Jun 2013
May 2015
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

19. RDM service timeline Level 3
RDM policy draft
Approved
Policy framework
Requirements
Technical Infrastructure
Mock-up
Development & testing
Pilot infrastructure
RDM infrastructure
RDM service
Website phase I & II
Website update & subject-specific RDM guidance
Researcher training/awareness
Events, focus groups, drop-in sessions, DMP clinics & in-house consultancy
RDM capability & training
Tailored online, face-to-face, workshops & courses
Compliance & cost
Monitoring data related activity, reporting on funding & systemised compliance
Pilot DAF & DMPs
Pilots etc., discipline specific models & training
RDM service
ADMIRe
Transitional service
Full service
Jun 2013
May 2015
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

20. IT Support/LRLR – RDM queries
RDM activity
IT Services
LRLR
Planning a research idea: 8 3
Systematic review of the literature/data review: 1 4
Funding/Grant bid proposal: 10 2
Data management planning: 11
File organisation: 19
Local storage: 25
Data gathering: 9
Documentation and Metadata: 6
Data analysis:
Publishing research data: 5
Repository storage:
Data curation:
Data deposit:
Data discovery:
Accessing and re-using research data:
Never dealt with a RDM query:
Other (please specify):
Total (respondents)
137 (36)
39 (17)
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

21. Where are we now… No additional resourcing and no transitional service
Institutional risk and non-compliance
RDM is strategically important institutionally
RGS, LRLR, IT Services to deliver RDM support
No clear ‘owner’ or strategic lead
RDM Policy approved
Website launched
RDM awareness event for academics
Training for academics in RDM
DCC Institutional Engagement
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

22. What we’ve learnt… Senior high-level buy-in to RDM
Key services and stakeholders to ‘work together’
Awareness of your local context & existing relationships
Established strategic RDM lead/owner
RDM Policy approved
Don’t presume anything – ‘living in a RDM bubble’
Technical infrastructure - £££
Human infrastructure – resourcing is difficult
Funders and compliance
Our research community have significant training requirements
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop

23. Thanks to…
Project Directors – Caroline Williams (Director of LRLR) and Bill Hubbard (Director of the Centre for Research Communications)
JISCMRD Programme Manager – Simon Hodson
JISCMRD programme partners and the DCC
The UoN researchers and key stakeholders
Contact us:
Dr Thomas Parsons
Laurian Williamson
16/11/2018
JISCMRD Workshop