UKOLN and JISC infoNet provide programme support for all of the JISC projects funded as part of the JISC’s Research Information Management activity. Projects have been funded in three phases, with a fourth currently getting underway (JISC Grant Funding 16/11). JISC infoNet primarily focuses on the business requirements for RIM, UKOLN on CERIF and data harmonisation needs. UKOLN produces briefing documents on CERIF, data harmonisation, RIM ‘state of the art’ and other matters of interest to the sector. It also helps foster collaboration through meetings and workshops. Other advice is also available to the sector, for example from UCISA, the Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA) and from JISC services like the Repositories Support Project.
As
described in a recent blog post a EuroCRIS workshop was held in Bath on 9-10 February 2012.
For the first time euroCRIS task group meetings was co-located and preceded by a CERIF tutorial and data surgery. UKOLN, euroCRIS and JISC jointly organied these events on 9-10 February 2012. CERIF, the Common European Research Information Format, is now being widely used in UK higher education institutions as a result of many recent procurements of CERIF-based CRIS (Current Research Information Systems) – particularly during 2010 and 2011. However staff in many institutions have expressed the desire to strengthen their understanding of CERIF in order to better exploit the opportunities offered by this powerful (and complex) standard. The meetings are being supported by the JISC Research Information Management (RIM) Programme which is working to increase engagement with CERIF and support the emerging community of practice in the UK.
An introductory CERIF tutorial was held on the morning of 9 February. In the afternoon there was a ‘data surgery’ session which examined the use of CERIF in real life scenarios. The aim is both to support new adopters of CERIF and to consolidate existing expertise. The afternoon session was split into two groups – one for those new or relatively new to CERIF, and another for more advanced users. Participants are being asked to bring CERIF queries and data modelling/mapping issues for discussion with CERIF experts.
On 10 February 2012 five euroCRIS task groups met in parallel sessions.
The meetings were open and all those involved in research information management (eg CRIS managers and IT staff, metadata/repository managers, research office staff…) were encouraged to participate.
The following resources are relevant to those with an interest in Research Information Management:
The Innovation Support Centre at UKOLN includes provision of support for the JISC Research Information Management (RIM) Programme. In consultation with JISC and the UK RIM community UKOLN produces a range of reports and documentation, including supporting materials for JISC calls for proposals, CERIF introductory resources, project syntheses and CERIF-CRIS ‘landscape’ studies. Meetings and workshops have taken place e.g. following on from the EXRI-UK report, UKOLN organised a series of workshops in 2010 on CERIF and metadata alignment across UK organisations.
