The UM's Research Data Management Policy is a legally binding document which ensures that all research data collected or generated under the auspices of the UM is made available on a repository system, be it in Open or Embargoed Access, so that it can be stored long-term and reused in other research initiatives. The UM strongly favours initiatives that are sustainable and effective in providing access to research outputs. The scope of the policy is to present a framework through which the UM can better preserve, showcase and reuse its research data.
The UM's Research Data Management Policy ensures that all research data produced under the auspices of the UM is preserved long-term and made available to other researchers and the public. Making research data available to the public greatly enhances its transparency and visibility as well as the impact on the scientific community.
The UM’s Research Data Management Policy applies to all research data generated under the auspices of the UM. Researchers are recommended to deposit curated/processed data at the end of their respective projects output from the date of the implementation of the Policy onwards. This is, as of yet, not a binding policy and it is at the discretion of the researcher or research team whether to place data in the UM Data Repository. Furthermore, if researchers wish to deposit past data, they are encouraged to do so.
Researchers are encouraged to deposit their research data in the data repository either at the end of a project, once the data has been analysed, refined and anonymised sufficiently, or once a publication (eg. journal article) based on/or referencing the data collected has been published.
The primary responsibility when it comes to depositing research data to a repository rests with the research team. The Data Management Plan (DMP) will specify who from the research team is responsible for depositing - whether it is the Principal Investigator, the Project Supervisor or the designated lead researcher. The DMP also outlines who is responsible for the data collection, any curation involved and where it would be uploaded and by who.
When it comes to (Data Repository at the University of Malta) only self-deposit is available. Every individual in possession of a UM login, automatically has a drUM account. The UM Library assigns upload quotas, provides advice and gives training to any person or project, affiliated with the UM, that wishes to upload data to the repository.
The project's data management plan will outline who is responsible for the data generated. For works with multiple authors or research projects involving multiple researchers, usually, a designated individual (e.g. the Principal Investigator, research supervisor, or research support officer) is responsible for depositing and maintaining the data in the repository in line with participants’ informed consent and applicable ethical and legal requirements.
Unless specified in the project's data management plan the data can be deposited in as many repositories as you wish.
No. Depositing research data in drUM is free of charge. This is a University-wide initiative and there is a commitment by the University to support and maintain the repository infrastructure for the foreseeable future.
Yes. It is very important that research data deposited in other repositories is also uploaded to drUM. Having all research data safely stored in one central location makes it easier to evaluate the research conducted on a departmental and faculty level, enhances visibility and also increases the probability of collaboration with foreign institutions.
Our aim is to collect, preserve and disseminate the intellectual output of the UM in digital format, but we also aim to collect any research data that is generated by our researchers in the hope that it is permanently preserved, both to substantiate publications that have already been published but also in the hope that it might be reused in future projects/research.
It is of utmost importance to adhere to the UM’s Research Data Management Policy if one of the funding institutions is the UM. Make sure to inform the other funding institutions about the UM’s Research Data Management Policy prior to signing any agreement.