EuroCRIS 12 th November 2009 Two Universities Working Together Helen Reddy - University of St...

EuroCRIS 12th November 2009

Two Universities Working Together

Helen Reddy - University of St AndrewsNicki Matthew - University of Aberdeen

Anna Clements - University of St Andrews

A Scottish Research Information System Project


• Scottish & UK Research Environment

• St Andrews Historical Perspective

• Aberdeen Historical Perspective

• Working in Partnership

• Data Model


Research Pooling in ScotlandResearch Pooling in Scotland

• SUPA (Physics)

• ScotChem (Chemistry)

• ERP (Engineering and Mathematical Sciences)

• SAGES (Geo- and Environmental Sciences)

• SIRE (Economics)

• SRP (General and Civil Engineering)

• SULSA (Biological and Life Sciences)

• SINAPSE (Brain Imaging)

• SICSA (Informatics)

•MASTS (Marine Science) 4th Nov 2009QuickTime™ and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.


UK ResearchAssessment

RAE

Research Assessment Exercise

TO……………

REF

Research Excellence Framework


REF Proposed Structure - Current Consultation 2009

60% 25% 15%

Outputs EnvironmentImpact

Expert review informed by

citation data where appropriate

Three or Four Outputs

(User significance)

Resourcing

Management

Engagement

(Esteem)

Quantitative:

-Indicators income, students

Impact Statement

- Case studies

Quantitative:

-Indicators e.g. charity income

Weightings:


Background to the ProjectSt Andrews

• In-house ‘Research Expertise System’ used for RAE 2008 submission

• Looked to other European examples e.g. Ireland, Norway, Denmark

• University Data Architect member of EuroCRIS


Research Expertise System •Used for RAE 2008

•BUT not just for RAE!

•However not fit for REF


Ideal CRIS?


Research Information System

History (Aberdeen)

• Publication Database – (in-house Oracle)• Poor uptake of use – usability and functionality• BUT - successful for gathering RAE2008 outputs• Limitations recognised• Other reporting and information systems needs

post RAE • Dilemma - further in house development or third

party?


Publications Database Aberdeen


Partnership Working:the beginnings

• Good relationship between Senior Research Policy Officers (RAE2008 Scottish Managers Forum) from 2005

• St Andrews further advanced (Research Expertise system) - upload into Institutional Repository, links to Sherpa/RoMEO and trial to import bibliographic records from third party databases

• Early 2008 – contact initiated to learn about importing and other features

• Further in-house work done on Publications Database (Aberdeen) to create new web user interface (costly)


Partnership Working:making progress

• Summer 2008 - Project commenced at Aberdeen to evaluate suppliers and products

• Confirmation that internal system not ‘fit for purpose’ in longer term

• Demonstration sessions of Research Information System/ publications databases organised by St Andrews (July and September 2008)


Partnership Working:The hard work begins in earnest

• September 2008: St Andrews presents to the Scottish Funding Council • Basic functional specification agreed• Main aims:

– to capture all University publications in one database– integrate with an institutional repository – display information about all research related activities– (hopefully) handle future requirements of the Research Excellence

Framework– provide the ability through a common data model to share

information across ‘non-traditional’ boundaries and even across institutions (e.g. Research Pooling in Scotland)

• Ambitious timetable for implementation – December 2009


Partnership Working:Joining things up

• OJEU tender process started in 2009 (both)• Tender specification drawn up together • Separate selection teams, but working

together – formal presentation by suppliers hosted at Aberdeen

• Independent decision-making, but arrived at consensus

• June 2009 – contracts issued to Atira


Timetable

August –September 2009 Define Data Model (includes “Impact” and “Assessment”)

October –November 2009 Data Mapping and Synchronisation

October –November 2009 Data Model checking and validation

16/17 November 2009 Test Installation on local servers

December 2009 Final Installation

Early 2010 Training and roll out to users


•

Equipment

ProjectProject OrganisationOrganisation

Service

Funding Programme

Patent

Skills

CV

Product

Event

PersonPerson

Classification(Semantics)

Classification(Semantics)

Publication

Common European Information Format

CERIF


XData Model


Data Model - “impact”


Data Model - “Assessment”


Partnership Working:Benefits

• Single point of contact for suppliers during procurement process

• Pricing advantages• Benefits during implementation stage • ‘Two heads are better than one’• Enhanced profile – other institutions keen to be kept

informed• More readily tap into knowledge from other

institutions/Europe through extended contact networks


Partnership Working:Lessons

• Collaboration and reaching agreement on the initial tender specification took longer than anticipated

• Ongoing collaboration throughout the tender process was time intensive. Conference calls and emails serve a purpose but face to face meetings are also very beneficial

• Keeping everyone informed at all stages is not always easy• Collating queries and responses from two institutions to

present a consolidated position takes time• Benefits have more than compensated for frustrations

along the way!• Allow more time

EuroCRIS 12 th November 2009 Two Universities Working Together Helen Reddy - University of St...

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