This document discusses a research project aimed at unlocking thesis data through persistent identifiers to increase visibility, improve discoverability, and enable reuse. The project is a collaboration between several UK universities and involves introducing students and institutions to data sharing standards and identifiers. The goals are to enhance national thesis discovery, track student careers, and better track theses and data through citations and metrics. The project will be conducted in three phases with defined outputs, milestones, and success indicators. Phase 1 will involve a survey and case studies, phase 2 will develop recommendations for implementation, and phase 3 will develop software and guidance for national adoption.

1. Research data spring
Unlocking thesis data through persistent identifers27/2/2015
Increasing visibility
Improving discoverability
Enabling reuse potential

2. Team
» University of East London
» University of Southampton
» London School of
Economics
» University of St Andrew’s
» University of Bristol
» University of the Arts
London
» EThOS, British Library
» Support and interest from
c.40 institutions at two
community meetings Nov
14 and Jan 15
» Support from DataCite UK
and ORCiD
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3. Scope and Gap
»Introducing students to the new norm of data sharing
and identifiers
»Students – Institutions – Funders
»Enhancing national scale thesis discovery to make space
for data/software
»Tracking student careers via ORCiD
»Better tracking of theses/data through citations and
metrics
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4. Impact and Benefits
»For students: bridge to norms of being a career
researcher, visibility and citations
»For funders: value for money, impact reporting
»For institutions: profile of doctoral research
»For researchers: availability of valuable research content,
replication, building on previous research, repurposing
data/software, cross-discipline
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5. Sustainability
»Not a problem to fix, but an opportunity to embrace the
inevitable world of identifiers and data sharing at a
national scale
»This will become the new business-as-usual for HEIs
across the EThOS network
»Existing and agreed standards, matching with other
developments like RIOXX, Casrai, Jisc Pathfinders etc
»Leveraging sustainability of ORCiD and DOI systems
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6. Outputs, milestones and indicators of success
»Phase 1: survey results, 5 case studies with PID overlay,
synthesis and recommendations for next steps
»Phase 2: draft recommendations to HEIs, proof of
concept in 3 HEIs, clinics to work through institutional
implementation, solution for smaller institutions
»Phase 3: final metadata requirements, software
development of Eprints,Dspace, EThOS itself, toolkit and
guidance for implementing across national network
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7. Funding
»Phase 1: £19k
»Phase 2: £39k
»Phase 3: £59k
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