News
Progress
21st February 2010
The project has now developed a model to plan and cost the implementation of data management capability for individual HEIs. The model is being tested at Bristol, Oxford and Leicester with encouraging results.
A national co-ordination structure is also proposed and discussions on the practical implementation of this are taking place with HEFCE and JISC
Subject to HEFCE agreement we intend to publish the whole plan in April 2010
Latest Newsletter now available
8th November 2009
The November newsletter has been circulated can now be found under the Documents tab by scrolling down to Newsletters
UKRDS Conference
26th March 2009
A conference was held in February 2009 at which the Feasibility Study project findings were announced and a number of presentations by leading researchers and funders were given. The general view was that the UK needed a more coherent approach to research data management and there was lively discussion about the issues raised in the Feasibility Study Report.
The presentations and some photographs from the conference can be found in the documents page
Interim Project
24th February 2009
As a result of the review of the Feasibility Report HEFCE and JISC agreed to fund an interim stage of the project. This part of the project will further qualify the approach to the recommended Pathfinder implementation programme with the four case study universities (Bristol, Leeds, Leicester and Oxford) through some proof of concept work.
The outcome of the Interim Project will be a detailed implementation proposal for Pathfinder phase which will go to the HEFCE Strategic Development Fund at the end of 2009.
Reaching a Conclusion
17th November 2008
The project is now reaching its conclusion and is in the final stages of drafting the report for HEFCE. The team believe that they have successfully established that UKRDS is feasible and that a business case can be made. During early 2009 we will be looking at the practical implementation planning and funding to take the project forward.
Process Model Developed
4th September 2008
The project has now developed a process model, organisation structure and value proposition, which will inform the business case.
This work will now be incorporated in a detailed update to the report for the project board and steering committee during September.
Interim Report Delivered
16th July 2008
The Steering Committee met on the 10th July to receive the project's interim report. It was noted that the report identified a great deal of work already underway in the UK relevant to the project's aims. It was felt that there was potential role for a UKRDS to provide a framework to foster coherence in the development of good practice and related quality of services and encourage proper funding of data management plans where appropriate.
The project will now enter phase 2 and take these ideas forward into a detailed set of recommendations for structure of service and financial flows.
Questionnaire Responses Completed
5th June 2008
The questionnaire aimed at researchers was closed to new responses yesterday. SERCO will now be working hard on analysing the data the results of which will be included in an Interim Report to the Steering Committee at the end of June.
When the site closed the project had achieved 217 responses/interviews representing the views of approximately 700 researchers across a wide range of disciplines within the four case study institutions.
The project wishes to express its grateful thanks to all those who took the trouble to respond.
Questionnaires Developed
6th May 2008
SERCO have developed two questionnaires with help from staff at the four Case Study Institutions. One is aimed at gaining an insight into perceived requirements amongst researchers and one is aimed at understanding the issues faced by Library and IT service providers in Institutions. Today both questionnaires went live on on line survey site and responses will be carefully monitored for the next few weeks.
Project Manager Appointed
1st April 2008
John Milner formerly MIS Director at Cambridge University takes up the appointment as Project Manager (part time)
Consultants Appointed
8th February 2008
After a competitive tender process SERCO are appointed Consultants for the Project.
UKRDS Website Goes Live
15th December 2007
Project Management Group Meet
26th November 2007
Project Management Group meeting at LSE. Demonstration of intended systems for managing procurement of Consultant.
Invitation to Tender Issued
15th November 2007
Project Director gives Presentation
8th November 2007
Presentation by Project Director Jean Sykes to CURL Members' Meeting, Manchester