Institutional Underpinnings Research Data Management Network

The Challenge

Launched in 2021, the Institutional Underpinning program brought together 25 of Australia’s 42 universities to develop a framework to bring consistency to the management of research data across the university sector. 

The collaboration, the first of its kind in Australia, created a Research Data Management Framework for Australian universities, which was launched in February 2023. 

The Framework provides expert guidance on the elements essential to university research data management. It also identified gaps where best practice is still unclear, or shared solutions need to be developed to move forward. 

There was a strong appetite from the universities participating in Institutional Underpinnings to continue to work collaboratively to solve these problems and collectively uplift university research data management.

The Approach

To extend the Institutional Underpinnings program, the ARDC established the Institutional Underpinnings Research Data Management Network (IU RDM Network). The Network shaped and delivered the IU Extension activities, which included:

1. extending the guidance provided in the Research Data Management Framework
2. continuing the sharing, collaboration and discussion between universities on research data management
3. designing and delivering 4 collaborative projects to solve shared research data management problems.

Collaborative Projects

The ARDC worked with the IU RDM Network to run 4 collaborative projects. Selected based on 7 key problem areas identified by the Network, these projects were co-designed by the Network as a whole and delivered by groups of universities that were members of Network. Each project received $200,000 in co-investment from the ARDC and was completed in November 2023.

Universities participated in the projects in one of 2 roles: co-developers and adopters. Co-developers were the core team of universities who conducted the work of the project. Adopters were universities that had a particular interest in the output and provided regular review and input for its development. To take advantage of the breadth of expertise present in the sector, there were also periodic workshops and reviews with the entire Network.

Read about the 4 projects and their outcomes:

Research Data Management (RDM) Business Intelligence and Reporting

Exploreabout Research Data Management (RDM) Business Intelligence and Reporting

Retention and Disposal of Research Data – Confirming Obligations, Establishing Practice

Exploreabout Retention and Disposal of Research Data – Confirming Obligations, Establishing Practice

Principles Aligned Institutionally-Contextualised (PAI-C) Research Data Management Training

Exploreabout Principles Aligned Institutionally-Contextualised (PAI-C) Research Data Management Training

Building a Decoder Ring for Sensitive Data Management

Exploreabout Building a Decoder Ring for Sensitive Data Management

Network Membership

The Network is still open for new member universities. Members can participate in the discussion and design activities of the Network, and have the opportunity to be involved in delivering co-investment projects (although they are not obliged to do so). To enquire about joining, please contact us via the form below.

Who Will Benefit

Australia’s university sector will continue to benefit from enhanced guidance on research data management, collaboratively-developed resources to address shared problems, and a forum to openly discuss opportunities and challenges and learn from one another.

The Partners

All Australian universities have been invited to join the Institutional Underpinnings Research Data Management Network. Membership is free and requires participation in group discussion. Member universities must nominate a representative who is able to consult with key stakeholders within their institution and represent their views to the Network. 

If your University would like to join the Network, please contact us via the form below.

The 32 current members of the network are: