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Advice, best practice and legal requirements on how best to manage the data you collect, store and share when working on a research or innovation project at 皇家华人.
On this page听
- What is considered data?
- Research data management support
- Relevant legislation and UCL data management policies
- Plan your data management strategy
- Writing a data management plan
- DMPonline
- Costing data management
- Data protection
- Reporting a data breach
- Training
- Intellectual Property
- Where to store your data
- UCL Research Data Repository
- Sharing data
- Accessing NHS Data without consent
What is considered data?
Anything you generate during your project can be considered data. It includes but is not limited to:
- Software or code
- Spreadsheets
- Laboratory or field notebooks
- Questionnaires, test responses and models
- Audio or video files
- Historical or modern texts and photographs.
Research Data Management support
UCL Library Services offer听essential information for the management of research data for the whole research lifecycle.听This includes advice听on how to select, document, and store your data for the long term, as well as advice on managing research outputs and handling issues such as copyright and data protection.
The UCL Research Integrity website has a wide range of advice, links to policy, areas to consider, and general questions to consider with all data.
The UCL听LMIC toolkit can provide specific advice for research in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).
- UCL LMIC Toolkit听(UCL login required)
Relevant legislation and UCL data management policies
All those involved with handling data should be aware of the relevant legislation and UCL policies.
If听you are planning to transfer data outside of the European Economic Area (EEA), contact the UCL Data Protection team at:听data-protection@ucl.ac.uk
Plan your data management strategy
Find help on how to plan your听data management strategy听on the UCL Integrity website. They听provide听links to policy, areas to consider, and general听questions to think about with all data.
Writing a data management plan
The Research Data Management team can help you write or review your Data Management plan听and give you advice on how to select, document and store your data for the long term.
DMPonline
DMPonline听is an online tool developed by the Digital Curation Centre that helps researchers develop Data Management Plans by providing templates for different funders and guidance at each step.
Costing data management
When you are applying for funding, costing all activities associated with data management is not only helpful but often necessary.听
Data protection
Data protection is the fair and proper use of information about people. The Data Protection team have听a wide range of resources available to help staff and students understand听data protection legislation and how it is interpreted and implemented at 皇家华人.
Reporting a data breach
If you become aware of a security-related issue where information could be accessed inappropriately, please report it. Find out听to report an incident听on the UCL Information Security website.
Training
Access data protection, intellectual property and data management training听at 皇家华人.
- UCL Data Protection Online Training
- Understanding and protecting Intellectual Property (IP) at 皇家华人
- Research Data Management How-to Guides
- 听(UCL login required)
Intellectual Property
UCL鈥檚 Intellectual Property (IP) Policy sets out the principles of ownership/rights to use intellectual property generated by UCL鈥檚 staff and students.
- UCL Intellectual Property (IP) Policy
- Create a spinout or license your intellectual property (IP)
- Understanding and protecting intellectual property (IP) at 皇家华人: Online training
Where to store your data
Data storage and preservation are key parts of the research data lifecycle. You will听need to determine which system will听best meet your project鈥檚 requirements for confidentiality, integrity and availability.
If you鈥檙e听obtaining data under licence or contract听(usually via a听data-sharing agreement) it鈥檚 likely there will be specific requirements for where this data can be stored. Data sharing agreements often include a requirement for secure data destruction.听You should check that the system you plan to use will be able to meet this requirement.
Library Services provide useful guidance on storing and preserving research data.
Research Data Storage Service
The听Research Data Storage Service is a centrally-managed, resilient data storage facility for UCL researchers who need somewhere to store and share their research data during the active phase of a research project.
Data Safe Haven
The Data Safe Haven (DSH) provides a technical solution for storing, handling and analysing identifiable data. If you plan to handle personal data as part of your research project you should听use the DSH. Before requesting access, you will need to complete the听Information Governance assurance process.
UCL Research Data Repository
Staff and research students can archive and preserve research outputs using the UCL Research Data Repository.听Use the听Research Data Repository to publish your datasets, figures, posters, presentations, workflows, data management plans, media and models.
Sharing data
Research data often remain听valuable after the life of the research project for which it was generated.
There are many reasons to share听research data.听It can increase the impact and visibility of your research,听increase your academic profile, and lead to new collaborations and partnerships.听Funders are also increasingly requiring researchers to share their data.听
You听should plan how and when to share your data (if it can be shared). UCL Library Services provide useful guidance on how to share your research data and the potential benefits this brings.
Accessing NHS Data without consent
If you are applying for Section 251 for approval from the Confidentiality Advisory Group听(CAG) to access NHS Data without consent, this requires compliance with NHS Digital听Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT). The Data Safe Haven is UCL鈥檚 only IT platform that complies with the DSPT.
Before requesting access to the Data Safe Haven you must complete the听Information Governance assurance process.
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