Universities and colleges are required to make data returns to regulatory bodies; they also need to manage systems and information across their organisation and beyond to support research management, course admissions, finance and much more. Data centric approaches can help to make these processes more efficient and reduce burdens on institutions. To achieve this, the use of standards is key. There are now initiatives that are helping, for example the Higher Education Data and Information Improvement Programme (HEDIIP) and the Consortia Advancing Standards in Research Administration Information (CASRAI). We explain these initiatives and their approaches and offer delegates the chance to learn about them. Jisc is working with HEDIIP and CASRAI to help to improve data and information interoperability – what does this mean to you? How can you get involved?