²ÝÁñÉçÇø

Research Data Management Strategy

Why does ²ÝÁñÉçÇø have an RDM Strategy?

The purpose of this strategy is to ensure that research conducted on behalf of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø accords with the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy. Research Data Management (RDM) is important to ensure effective use of public research funds, accountability to appropriately manage research data, replicability of research studies, and robust communication of research results.

The Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy requires that post-secondary institutions publish an RDM Strategy that reflects institutional capacity and needs. ²ÝÁñÉçÇø encourages a wide range of research activities focused on local and regional partnership. Collaborating to provide data management resources, tools, and protocols to ²ÝÁñÉçÇø researchers is important for expanding ²ÝÁñÉçÇø’s capabilities to conduct quality research.

Sound RDM aligns with ²ÝÁñÉçÇø’s strategic commitments to organizational agility and responsiveness to community needs. Adapting systems to ensure that ²ÝÁñÉçÇø staff have clear expectations about data storage and access will improve the institution’s overall capacity to conduct quality research. Further, ensuring research data is accessible and re-useable will improve effective knowledge transfer to ²ÝÁñÉçÇø’s partners in research.

²ÝÁñÉçÇø understands the importance of balancing data security and confidentiality with the availability of research data. Sound data management practices should mean that research data is broadly accessible. This strategy commits to making research data as accessible as possible while still abiding by the ethical and contractual obligations to funders, partners, and relevant communities.

Principles

²ÝÁñÉçÇø supports the following RDM principles outlined by the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy:

• Recognizing data as an important research output
• Supporting researchers in their efforts to establish and implement data management practices that are consistent with ethical, legal and commercial obligations, as well as tri-agency requirements, including the , the , and other relevant policies
• Promoting the importance of data management to researchers, staff and students
• Guiding their researchers on how to properly manage data in accordance with the principles outlined in the , including the development of data management plans
• Committing to the adoption of established best practices when developing institutional standards and policies for data management plans
• Providing, or supporting access to, repository services or other platforms that securely preserve, curate and provide appropriate access to research data
• Recognizing that data created in the context of research by and with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities, collectives and organizations will be managed according to principles developed and approved by those communities, collectives and organizations, and in partnership with them
• Recognizing that a distinctions-based approach is needed to ensure that the unique rights, interests and circumstances of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit are acknowledged, affirmed, and implemented.

Implementing RDM at ²ÝÁñÉçÇø will mean adherence to  for data management:

• Findable: Data can be found using consistent identifiers and naming conventions
• Accessible: The protocol to access data is clear to those with permission to access it
• Interoperable: Data is formatted such that it can be integrated with other data or into existing workflows
• Reusable: Research data is maintained so that it can be re-analyzed in future research

Definitions

This strategy recognizes the following key definitions as defined by the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy.

Review

Questions, comments, and feedback about the Institutional Strategy should be directed to research@cnc.bc.ca.