This document discusses a research project aimed at unlocking thesis data through persistent identifiers to increase visibility and enable reuse. The project is a collaboration between several UK universities and involves introducing students and institutions to data sharing standards. It aims to enhance discovery of thesis research nationally and better track student careers and research outputs over time. The project expects to benefit students, funders, institutions and researchers by improving access to research. It will produce recommendations and tools to implement persistent identifiers for thesis data across UK higher education as a sustainable practice. The project is funded over three phases from £19k to £59k.

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 Andrews
» University of the Arts
London
» University of Northampton
» University of Bristol tbc
» 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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