1. Engaging with Researchers at the University of Exeter
Gareth Cole. 8th March 2013

2. What is Open Exeter? JISC funded RDM Project Three main work strands:
Policy/advocacy
Follow the Data
Technical strand
Engagement needed with each workstrand
i.e. Not just policy and advocacy

3. Why Engage? Requirements analysis
Raise awareness of policies and funder requirements
Prepare the ground so that policy etc. doesn’t come as a surprise
Work with researchers and Professional Services staff to create policy and infrastructure
Embed training and RDM on existing courses and programmes

4. Who have we tried to engage with?
Engagement needs to take place at all levels
Not just senior management
PGRs
Academic Staff
Professional Services Staff – not just researchers
Central IT
College IT staff – Computer Development Officers (CDOs)
Library
College admin support
Finance teams
RKT
Basically everyone!

5. How have we engaged? Policy Task and Finish Group DAF Survey
Existing channels of communication
Face-to-face
Interviews
Meetings
Briefings
Focus Groups
Talks and Presentations – researchers and PS staff
Staff Meetings
Existing College Workshops
Targeted audience – tried to limit general communications

6. What has been successful?
Conducting a requirements analysis
Working within existing programmes
Target your audience properly
Use “target” audience to help formulate policy i.e. Directors of Research on Task and Finish Group
Use existing lines of communications
Talk to people who know and already communicate with your chosen audience
Working with a group of PGR students

7. Future Plans
Carry on engaging!

8. Conclusion Engagement makes life easier
Engagement can provide collaborators and pilot case studies
Policies, tools etc. can be shown to be collaborative and not imposed without consultation
Listen to those you engage with
Use their ideas where practicable
They have to cope with the results of what you are doing!
Consultation isn’t necessarily engagement

9. Any Questions? Contact us: rdm@exeter.ac.uk; openaccess@exeter.ac.uk
Open Access and Data Curation team