In May 2011, the University of Edinburgh Court approved a policy to guide researchers and support staff in their management of digital research data. Jeff Haywood, Vice Principal Knowledge Management, CIO and Librarian to the University, highlighted “The University of Edinburgh has a strong interest in openness of research outputs. So we need, as a University, a way of setting standards for ourselves and for our PIs about how we’re going to handle research data. A research data policy defines the different responsibilities of the institution and the researcher.”

Consultations were carried out with individual researchers and relevant University Committees to shape the policy, which is aspirational, and will enable Information Services and the Institute for Academic Development to develop jointly the training and services that many researchers will wish to draw on to manage their digital research materials. Services at Edinburgh University are being developed to support the policy.

Watch Jeff Haywood speaking further about the benefits of such a data policy: MANTRA – Research Data Management policies. [1]

[1] MANTRA – Jeff Hayward – Research Data Management policies. Online video, accessed 05.03.12, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8IIdfBAr_0>;.