Jisc Briefing Document on Data Citations

Commissioned paper from Cameron Neylon (Curtin University) on citation practices for research data. Includes information on current (2016) global activity in the field, parallels with traditional citation, and recommendations.

KE & Science Europe briefing paper: Funding Research Data Management and related infrastructures

Responsible Research Data Management (RDM) is a pillar of quality research. In practice good RDM requires the support of a well-functioning Research Data Infrastructure (RDI). One of the challenges the research community is facing is how to fund the management of research data and the required infrastructure. Knowledge Exchange and Science Europe have both defined activities to explore how RDM/RDI are, or can be, funded. Independently they each planned to survey users and providers of data services and on becoming aware of the similar objectives and approaches, the Science Europe Working Group on Research Data and the Knowledge Exchange Research Data expert group joined forces and devised a joint activity to to inform the discussion on the funding of RDM/RDI in Europe.

Open Access policy effectiveness: A briefing paper for UK Higher Education Institutions

There are now almost 700 Open Access policies around the world, two thirds of them in universities and research institutes. There is considerable variation across these policies in terms of the conditions they lay down for authors and of their effectiveness. This briefing paper lays out the main issues that affect the effectiveness of a policy in providing high levels of Open Access research material.

PASTEUR4OA Briefing Paper

Working Together to Promote Open Access Policy Alignment in Europe

Open Access in the UK Briefing on the UK Open Access Case Study

Open Access (OA) policies have been adopted at the national, institutional and funder levels in the UK and various infrastructural support mechanisms are available to facilitate open access. In July 2012, following an independent study on ‘Accessibility, sustainability, excellence: how to expand access to research publications’ the UK Government announced its OA policy. The Government’s policy determines that ‘support for publication in open access or hybrid journals, funded by Article Processing Charges (APCs), [i]s the main vehicle for the publication of research’. At the same time that the UK Government announced its OA policy, the UK’s major research funder, the Research Councils UK (RCUK), revised its OA policy announcing its ‘preference for immediate [Gold] Open Access with the maximum opportunity for re-use’. In March 2014, the UK Funding Councils announced their OA policy for the post-2014 Research Evaluation Framework (REF). The policy requires the deposit of peer-reviewed article and conference proceedings in repositories (Green OA) and is applicable from 1 April 2016. By and large, two distinct OA routes are being promoted by the UK Government and RCUK (Gold OA) and the Funding Councils (Green OA). This scenario requires that continued efforts are made to ensure that advice and support are provided to universities, academic libraries and researchers on the distinct OA policies and on policy compliance. The UK research institutions have been adopting OA policies from as early as 2003 and there currently are 85 institutional OA policies. Despite distinct OA policies having been adopted by policymakers, national research funders and research institutions, the UK’s movement towards OA has been a result of stakeholders coordinated efforts and is considered to be a case of good practice.

KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE BRIEFING PAPER ON JOURNAL BUSINESS MODELS

Over the past few years many studies have been published on the costs and economic benefits of journal business models. Early studies considered only the costs incurred in publishing traditional journals made available for purchase on a subscription or licensing business model. As the open access business model became available, some studies also covered the cost of making research articles available in open access journals. More recent studies have taken a broader perspective, looking at the position of journal publishers in the market and their business models in the context of the economic benefits from research dissemination. This briefing paper also looks at the outcomes of the broadly cited RIN study and various national studies performed by John Houghton. All links provided in footnotes in this Briefing Paper are to studies available in open access.

Cloud computing for research - final report

Curtis+Cartwright Consulting Ltd, working with the University of Surrey and Professor Charles Oppenheim, has been commissioned by Jisc to investigate Cloud Computing for Research. This document is the final report, and is accompanied by a briefing paper which provides advice targeted at researchers.

12 steps towards embedding inclusive use of technology

This briefing for senior managers is based upon research conducted by Jisc via interviews with a range of pro-vice chancellors for Learning and Teaching (or equivalent). The briefing describes 12 steps that senior managers can take to lead and embed a culture of inclusive practice right across the institution, building on any pockets of excellence that already exist. TDL

Leap2A: Enabling e-portfolio portability

Leap2A is an open specification for transferring learner-owned information between different systems. e-Portfolio tools and systems are now widely used by learners to present evidence of learning, achievements and abilities for many purposes, including application for a job or university, assessment or professional accreditation. This briefing provides an overview of the benefits, summary of systems that have supported Leap2A, further information on data portability and links to further resources.

Transforming curriculum design: transforming institutions

This briefing looks at lessons and resources from the ongoing Institutional Approaches to Curriculum Design programme that may benefit others undertaking institutional transformation.

FE learners' expectations and experiences of technology

This briefing shares the outcomes of our work on further education and skills students' expectations and experiences of the digital environment and makes recommendations for college leaders and managers.

Open Access Business Models for Research Funders and Universities

This briefing paper offers insight into various open access business models, from institutional to subject repositories, from open access journals to research data and monographs. This overview shows that there is a considerable variety in business models within a common framework of public funding. Open access through institutional repositories requires funding from particular institutions to set up and maintain a repository, while subject repositories often require contributions from a number of institutions or funding agencies to maintain a subject repository hosted at one institution. Open access through publication in open access journals generally requires a mix of funding sources to meet the cost of publishing. Public or charitable research funding bodies may contribute part of the cost of publishing in an open access journal but institutions also meet part of the cost, particularly when the author does not have a research grant from a research funding body

Combined useage statistics as a basis for Research intelligence

Knowledge Exchange hosted a workshop in March 2010 with the aim to bring together technical experts working in partner projects collecting usage statistics including PIRUS2, OAstatistik and SURFsure projects. Experts from other related projects (RePec and NeeO) were also involved. The workshop produced a briefing paper on combined usage statistics as a basis for research intelligence. In this paper, the experts make a cause for collecting and exchanging usage statistics as this can provide valuable insight in how research is being used, not only by the research community, but also by business and society in general. This would provide a basis for 'Research Intelligence', an intelligent use of reliable numerical data which can be used as a basis for decision making in higher education and research. Usage statistics are a clear example of data which can offer a valuable contribution to the information required to make informed decisions. To allow for the meaningful collection, exchange and analysis of usage statistics, a number of challenges and opportunities need to be addressed and further steps need to be taken.

Open Citations and Responsible Metrics

Briefing Note for Jisc – Cameron Neylon – March 2016