Neish P1, Smith A1, Colla E1, Ali Z1
1The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Biography:
Peter is the Program Manager, Stewardship and Open Research at the University of Melbourne. He works across the University on a wide range of data management projects. He has interests in data management training, planning and open science. Peter has previously worked in libraries, research organisations and government, using his background as a researcher and computer scientist to make data and information more open, standards-based and linked.
Abstract:
Research Data Management Plans (DMPs) are increasingly moving beyond compliance-based approaches toward solutions that better support FAIR data, interoperability, and integration with institutional research systems and workflows. At the University of Melbourne, this shift led to a review of institutional requirements and available platforms, culminating in the implementation of Melbourne Data Planner launched in June 2026.
This presentation examines how the implementation was used to reposition DMPs as a source of structured, reusable information within the institutional research data ecosystem. A key challenge was balancing funder and policy compliance requirements with the need to support meaningful and sustainable research data management practice. In line with the shift from static documents to machine-actionable DMPs, the project focused on developing machine-readable and semantically structured information capable of supporting improved metadata quality, interoperability, and downstream reuse.
The implementation combined technical deployment with institutional change management, including authentication integration, configuration of structured workflows, and development of knowledge models aligned with institutional policy, funder requirements, and FAIR principles. Emphasis was placed on standardising data capture and persistent identifiers, establishing foundations for integrations with institutional systems and machine-actionable DMP approaches.
Also discussed, will be the project’s coordinated testing, communications, training, and support activities to encourage adoption and align researcher practice with institutional governance objectives.
By embedding FAIR principles within both system configuration and organisational processes, DMPs can evolve from compliance artefacts into interoperable institutional assets that support automation, integration, and improved stewardship across the research lifecycle.
This case study contributes to broader discussions on machine-actionable DMPs and research data governance by providing a practical example of how institutions can align infrastructure, policy, and practice to support both compliance obligations and FAIR research data outcomes.
