Research data management: An approach from a modern university with a growing research portfolio

Abstract

This practice paper describes the background work undertaken by Oxford Brookes University in assessing how best to position institutional support for research data management. It further discusses the development of the University’s research data management policy and its collaborative approach to data management support. Finally, it reflects on the challenges of overseeing policy implementation and providing the required enactment infrastructure. Work to date has not dwelt upon the technical issues connected with data curation, discussions on which staff are just about to embark, as they had no expertise in this area. The approach that has been taken is one that will hopefully be of interest to those institutions who are developing their research base and seeking to offer better data management support to researchers in a time of reduced or declining resource. Overall, it is felt that the strategic and institution-wide approach that has been taken has worked well and may be suited to institutions like Oxford Brookes that are less research-intensive. Finally, it is felt that this approach is one that can readily be copied.