Australia’s Research Data Management Framework Projects and Outputs

The Australian National University will produce a streamlined workflow for approving surveys that collect sensitive data. This will involve bringing together ethics, cybersecurity and RDM to identify and remove barriers to effective data governance.  The team will produce model processes and documentation with worked examples.

The project aimed to develop a process to manage research data retention and disposal based on the recommendations set out in the RDM Framework. The team produced metadata requirements for retention and disposal, as well as a data retention workflow.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655223).

RDM Framework element:

Retention and disposal

Output:

“Research data retention and disposal process and metadata requirements” (DOI: 10.25917/EDCN-5788)

This Edith Cowan University project aimed to identify potential impediments to sharing and reusing research data at the university. The team also developed and implemented a framework to establish a data champions network and is continuing to develop learning materials in consultation with the data champions.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655227).

RDM Framework element:

Sharing, publication and open research

Outputs:

Learning materials on data sharing and reuse

For access to the output, contact the University’s Scholarly Communication Team.

This project focused on a scoping study to identify current University practices, resources and infrastructure related to RDM, together with a plan to implement, achieve and monitor sustainable best practice RDM.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655233).

RDM Framework element:

Culture change

Outputs:

Scoping study survey report (DOI: 10.25955/25479199.v1)
Survey dataset (DOI: 10.25955/25479220.v1)
Survey questions (DOI: 10.25955/21442977.v1) and interview questions (DOI: 10.25955/21442962.v1)

A university-wide review was undertaken to identify the culture of RDM. The review included structured interactions and workshops. Culture was summarised into 3 areas of activity: Values (what is important to the researcher/institution); Aims (what is the researcher/institution hoping to achieve); Experiences (how is the current state working, what can be changed).

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655281).

RDM Framework element:

Culture change

Output:

Final report, survey, interview questions and summarised results

The project involved a number of activities: articulating culture change guiding principles appropriate to Macquarie; identifying foundations for each principle and ascertaining RDM Framework elements which could be addressed within the timeframe; exploring the current state and desired state targets via RISE (the Research Infrastructure Self Evaluation Framework); and establishing and measuring metrics to help quantify or signal changes in RDM.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655332).

RDM Framework element:

Culture change

Output:

Resources relating to the Macquarie University RDM Framework implementation and full project case study report

Monash University and the University of Tasmania collaborated to provide feedback to the Active Data Management and Sensitive Data elements of the RDM Framework, specifically those related to information classification schemes. The project analysed the journeys of the 2 universities in developing and reviewing their classification frameworks including insights into why decisions were made by each university.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655336).

RDM Framework element:

Sensitive data

Outputs:

Case study and comparison on supporting implementation of information classifications

The project upgraded RDM planning activities including metadata standardisation and DOI minting for datasets. Charles Darwin University (CDU) completed the metadata standardisation process and has a process in place to mint DOIs for all datasets. The project also focused on evaluating and implementing Queensland University of Technology’s RDM planning and primary material checklist at CDU.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655338).

RDM Framework element:

Data management planning

Outputs:

Project materials for implementing the QUT RDM planning and primary material checklist
CDU experience
Training materials
Guidance
Documentation

For more information or to learn more about other implementation phases, contact eResearch QUT.

Swinburne University of Technology has utilised the RDM Framework Policy element to build a new policy. The policy was drafted based on the published experiences for a variety of international institutes and organisations, assessment of existing policies across the 20 largest Australian universities, and in consultation with many university roles. The project has developed a suite of supporting materials that can be found on Zenodo.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655341).

RDM Framework element:

Support, training and guidance

Output:

Standardised research data management policy templates and supporting materials (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6776054)

University of Adelaide has investigated the role of Data Steward as defined via policy and has designed the Data Steward Competency Framework (DSCF) by a working group including researchers, library staff and research infrastructure staff. The aim of the project was to bring together a suite of training, information and resources that can be used by a data steward (researcher) to assist with RDM.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655386).

RDM Framework element:

Policy

Outputs:

Full project report
Data Steward Competency Framework (DSCF) (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7033760)

University of Canberra tested the Active Data Management element of the RDM Framework. In particular, zooming in on the ‘Integration for a Seamless User Experience’ to enable researchers to seamlessly manage project data through its lifecycle. The project identified several gaps in data management systems and processes, and embarked on an ambitious project to integrate 3 enterprise systems in the University.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655390).

RDM Framework element:

Policy

Output:

Collection of materials used to establish RDM planning at the University of Canberra (DOI: 10.17632/bfrt75n8wh.1)

The project aimed to discover how data sharing is impacted by ethics processes. This was done by testing the RDM Framework recommendations regarding future-proofing ethics applications (found in the RDM Framework Open Research and Data Publication element) in 2 ways. First, a review of ethics training, support and policies was undertaken. Second was a deeper investigation to map the ethics application process at the University of Melbourne.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655394).

RDM Framework element:

Sharing, publication and open research

Output:

Ethics and data discussion paper (DOI: 10.26188/20500101)

At University of New England (UNE), the organisational policy framework is undergoing a significant and large-scale review. Due to the timing of this review, the RDM policy review process was stripped back to reviewing the RDM Framework Policy element by a team of UNE experts and subsequently commencing the UNE policy and supporting documents review. The team included experts from university research, IT, records, governance and library services, and a specialist academic committee.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655409).

Bond University, the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney undertook a joint project to develop and pilot test a RDM introductory educational/training experience for Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates that targeted minimum RDM training outcomes/competencies, and contains the respective university’s materials/information on policies, processes and systems. Three university-contextualised versions were produced and pilot tested as part of this project.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655417).

RDM Framework element:

Support, training and guidance

Output:

Principles Aligned, Institutionally-Contextualised (PAI-C) demonstration content

The full content is available on request. Follow the link for details.

This project produced a white paper that discusses how the University of Queensland is providing data infrastructure that facilitates the transition from “unmanaged” data sets to “managed” ones. While this is not a perfect alignment with the RDM Framework Active Data Management element, it does contribute to a number of the recommendations, namely research data governance, user-focused design and integration for a seamless user experience.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655427).

RDM Framework element:

Active data management

Output:

Democratising large scale instrument-based science through e-Infrastructure (DOI: 10.1109/eScience55777.2022.00033)

• Informed by the RDM Framework and elements, the project carried out: a revision and updating of University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) RDM framework (policies, processes, guidelines, and systems); delivery of information and education sessions and training resources; application of FAIR and CARE principles to identified agricultural and climate research datasets and projects; publication of a case study on these experiences; and testing of the efficacy and applicability of the framework tools and elements for interoperability with UniSQ’s existing and in-development systems and program.
• Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655433).

RDM Framework elements:

Data management planning
Active data management

Outputs:

Revised and updated UniSQ Research Data and Primary Materials Management Procedure

UniSQ Research Data Management and Indigenous Data Governance Schedule

Case study on UniSQ experiences of implementing Institutional Underpinnings-aligned RDM:

2021 Collaborative Conference on Computational and Data Intensive Science (C3DIS) (6 to 8 July, online)
2021 Australian Research Management Society Conference (3 to 5 November)
2022 ARDC Data Management Planning Interest Group Meeting 2 (19 July)

UTS has developed a maturity assessment tool (MAT) to evaluate the effectiveness of its current RDM planning practices. The tool was based primarily on the 19 recommendations found in the RDM Framework Data Management Planning element. The recommendations were used as a benchmark to assess how well UTS was meeting its RDM requirements (as outlined in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research) and also to evaluate its practices against sector wide expectations around RDM planning practices.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655467).

RDM Framework element:

Data management planning

Output:

Institutional RDM planning maturity assessment tool (MAT) (DOI: 10.26195/XV24-CR59)

The project sought to define the requirements for a data management planning tool that can assist with the assessment of needs, compliance, provisioning, and ongoing management of research data. The project was led by the library but involved staff from a variety of areas in the University, including University IT, Information Governance, Records and Archives, Office of Research, Human ethics committee and research staff and students.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655473).

RDM Framework element:

Data management planning

Outputs:

Functional and metadata requirements for an integrated DMP tool (DOI: 10.26182/dgz6-n611)
RDM swimlane diagram for academic staff (DOI: 10.26182/9v88-ab40)
RDM swimlane diagram for HDR students (DOI: 10.26182/4y9w-5t18)

The work carried out in this project tested several RDM Framework elements. Looking to the Policy element, the UOW RDM Policy and Guidelines had not undergone comprehensive review since 2017, and significant changes were required to align with the evolving RDM landscape. Reviewing RDM guidelines and training materials occurred, considering recommendations from the RDM Framework Sensitive Data element and the Support, Training and Guidance element. Recommendations from the Data Management Planning element are included in our new policy mandates that a Research Data Management Plan must accompany all new research projects and storage requests approval.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655481).

RDM Framework elements:

Policy
Sensitive data
Support, training and guidance

Outputs:

ReDBox user guide with 6 short instructional videos
ReDBox support website

The aim of the project was to implement an online RDM training module for Victoria University researchers and HDR students. A project steering group was established to oversee and provide direction by senior representatives from across the institution, including ITS, Library, Research Services, Office of Training, Quality and Integrity, and Graduate Research. The project stages included: an audit of RDM support, training and guidance; identification and selection of a training resource suitable for adapting; and customisation of the selected resource with VU specific content.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7655494)

RDM Framework element:

Support, training and guidance

Outputs:

RDM training SCORM files
Results of the initial audit

Western Sydney University (WSU) has engaged our cloud services provider, Intersect, to provide access to Mediaflux on an Intersect research data management platform called Idea. Idea has been designed with the intention of managing research data throughout the full data lifecycle from collection to archiving. WSU research data is currently stored across many silos, and although some planning has occurred via research data management plans, the use of metadata is not consistent and often nonexistent.

Read the project summary report (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7690470).

RDM Framework element:

Active data management

Outputs:

“Towards a Step Change in Managing Research Data at Western Sydney University”
“Metadata: A Case Study at Western Sydney University”