Building a foundation of trust: the benefits of aligning Research Data Management and Research Integrity
Adele Haythornthwaite1 1University Of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Abstract
In Australia, our universities have adopted a range of different approaches to delivering research data management (RDM) services and commissioning appropriate platforms and tools for their research communities.
These specialised services in large, research-intensive universities are usually shared by separate teams located in eResearch, Information Technology and Library ‘departments’, with various degrees of overlapping responsibilities and focus. Often, a great deal of effort is spent by various managers across multiple departments trying to align training, support services and responsibilities at a single institution. Failure to achieve this alignment will result in each unit largely setting their own priorities that fit with their view of the research services world, leading to a fragmented, inefficient and insular approach to delivery of research support – thereby entrenching the well-known ‘silos’ phenomenon.
At the University of Sydney, the ‘traditional eResearch’ functions are shared between teams in three different units. The Research Data Governance team has recently moved into the Research Integrity & Ethics department and has been working closely with Research Integrity leaders to adopt a different approach for engaging with researchers around RDM.
We are developing a new digital strategy that will use the Integrity principles of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research to better frame research data management and governance aims. Using Research Integrity as a vehicle for RDM will allow us to engage more broadly and deeply with researchers through delivery of shared resources and training, while working across the silos to align our RDM goals.
Biography
Dr Adele Haythornthwaite is the Manager, Research Data Governance at The University of Sydney, and aims to further develop research data policy and strategy to the benefit of researchers and the wider community. She is particularly interested in working ‘across silos’ to encourage and promote better data practices and research integrity and excellence outcomes.