FoI and Research: Setting the Scene

Michael Jubb

FoI and Research WorkshopUniversity College London

1 April 2011

The legislationFoI Act 2000, Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004came into effect 2005universities receiving funds under FHE Act 1992 defined as ‘public authorities’ subject to the legislationchallenges for universities in implementing/complying with the legislation

Three recent casesclimate change emails at UEA

Muir Russell Report 2010

longitudinal set of tree ring data at Queen’s University BelfastBSc Homeopathy course at University of Central Lancashire

HE sector concernsuniversities unlike other ‘public authorities’

charities with obligations under the Charities Actdiminishing reliance on public funds

competitive position within UK and globallyfor students and for research funds

commercial interestsexploitation of research and research datarisk to public and private sector partnerships

loss of control over intellectual propertydealing with sustained campaigns

Discussions between ICO and HE sector

roundtable meeting September 2010working group of HE sector representatives to work with ICO in developing guidelines on research data, teaching materials and IPR

longer term aim to amend the current HE sector publication scheme

first meeting January 2011to meet quarterlysub-group on research data

Commons Science and Technology recommends that ICO should produce guidance for the sector by September 2011Review of the Act and its implementation

In the meantime…..JISC Guidelines

Freedom of Information and Research Data: Questions and Answers http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/programmerelated/2010/foiresearchdata.aspx

discussion forum including RIN, JISC, ICO, National Archives, UUKthis series of workshops

to raise awarenessto gather evidence