Researchers and research students at the University of Edinburgh already benefit from the University’s position as an established world leader in the field of Research Data Management (RDM). However, the University does not yet actively seek to encourage good data management skills amongst its many undergraduate students, many of whom will become the researchers of the near future.

It is compatible with our position as a leader in this field to introduce data management skills as both vital and desirable at the point when research practices are initially developed. Further, instilling awareness of data management practices at the undergraduate level will help to promote the importance of data management skills in the conduct of good academic research amongst the wider research community.

The UK Data Service (UKDS) recently released a set of teaching resources (UKDS resource: Dissertations and their data: promoting research integrity in undergraduate projects (PDF)) which aim to facilitate better data management practices amongst undergraduate students carrying out research projects for final year dissertations. These resources include ‘templates for consent, transcription, anonymisation, and documentation, adapted to suit the needs of undergraduate students’ (UKDS, 2018:3).

This pilot project will recruit a PhD intern to review the UKDS resources and our own RDM training materials to develop and deliver data management training sessions and accompanying materials to meet the needs of University undergraduate students. This would form part of the unique Edinburgh experience and contribute to improved student satisfaction, as well as the City’s aims to become the Data Capital of Europe.

The appointed student will work with Academic Support Librarians and colleagues in LTW to gain advice in terms of timing and scheduling the sessions. ASLs and staff in LTW would also inform the proposal for scaling up this activity.