Acquiring necessary infrastructure for successful research data management (RDM) services at Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Arusha, Tanzania.
Funding Area: Critical shared infrastructure / Infraestructura compartida critica
Problem Statement: Lack of necessary infrastructure for the successful RDM services is very critical in most of universities located in LMICs. These infrastructures range from ICT and library directorate. There is also lack of awareness among researchers on the existence of these infrastructure and how they can assist them on managing their research data to finalise their research works. There is also lack of collaboration among these three entities that hinder proper implementation of RDM services among universities in LMICs. NM-AIST is public university located in Arusha, Tanzania. The NM-AIST is research intensive university, and it is in the process of establishing RDM services, however lack of necessary infrastructure slows the progress. Thus, the main aim of this project is to identify and acquire the necessary infrastructure for the establishment of RDM services. The infrastructure will enable researchers to analyse, store, share and reuse research data online thus enable other researchers and universities to do the same. Most of these activities will be conducted at the NM-AIST which will also be the host of this project.
Proposed Activities: As the complexities of the research environment grow, so too does the need for supporting infrastructures to enable researchers to operate effectively. Researchers require infrastructures that ensure a maximum of accessibility, stability, and reliability to facilitate working with and sharing of research data. Such infrastructures are being increasingly summarized under the term RDR. Therefore, acquiring necessary infrastructure for the establishment of RDM services is critical in most of universities to manage research activities. The project focused on the three main areas: ICT and library. Therefore, the following activities will be conducted: 1. ICT infrastructure 1. Amend the institutional RDM policy and guidelines to align with the findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR); collective benefit, authority to control, responsibility, and ethics (CARE); and transparency, responsibility, user focus, sustainability, and technology (TRUST) principles. This will also include creating awareness through online sessions, personal meetings, and live seminars. These seminars need a budget (3 months). 2. Evaluate the requirement and implement the institutional research data repository (RDR) for storing research data. In this activity the university will purchase equipment such as desktop computers, laptops, and server. The institutional high performing computing will be used for data analysis etc however, the project will purchase batteries in case of power cut (lack of electricity) (3 months). 3. Make RDR visible thus researchers from all over the world can access, share, and reuse research data stored. This will include promotion and marketing of the RDR and papers presentation on conferences (3 months) 2. Library infrastructure 1. Develop data management plan (DMP) tool. This will include training (both online and face to face) among researchers and staff on how to use the tool (2 months). 2. Develop and provide metadata and metadata standards guidelines for research data to be deposited in RDR. This will include intensive work to develop and share the document with researchers and then work on the output and then provide the feedback. The corrected version will be available online via the institutional website and social media tools 2 months). 3. Train researchers and academic community on the deposit of research data in RDR. This will also include creating awareness through online sessions, personal meetings, and live seminars. These seminars need a budget (1 month).
Openness: All the reports and activities will be communicated and shared openly using online platforms such as Google Talk. The project will also use the institutional website and social media tools to promote and market its activities and progress. People will be encouraged to use these necessary infrastructures which will be developed in this project such as RDR and DMP tool (online).
Challenges: The project will develop the necessary infrastructure such as RDR and DMP and will enable the free access of these infrastructure, however they might have limitations especially for external users (non-NM-AIST) since they need some guidance and special assistance like reliable internet, technical issues etc. For instance, the use of DMP (online) tool which will be develop, there will be sections which might require supervisor and/or mentor to sign and they might refuse to do so since is not a mandatory of the university.
Neglectedness: Yes, I applied to International Training Programme Projects (ITP) 2023 which was organised in Belgium, at one or more Flemish HE & SI(s), in one id VLIR-UOS project partner countries or in both. However, the application has not been selected by the selection committee as reported that “This is a highly relevant and topical proposal, though significant improvements related to implementation and sustainability are required’ and this is addressed in this proposal”.
Success: The necessary infrastructure will enhance research activities to be conducted well using RDM services. Through this project, the institution will introduce various research services to support researchers all over the world. For instance, research data shared service using various online research platforms which will allow researchers to work and collaborate in groups. In this scenario, this project will support a number of universities through NM-AIST.
Total Budget: US$ 57,400
Budget File: pdf
Affiliations: Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Arusha, Tanzania. Box 447, Arusha. Tel. +255 754 285601
LMIE Carveout: Tanzania is among the LMIE since 2020. Tanzania's GNI per capita increased from $ 1,020 in 2018 to $ 1,080 in 2019 thus qualified to be among LMIE countries.
Team Skills: Neema Florence Mosha - PhD (Information Science), Ramadhani Sinde - PhD (Information Communication Science and Engineering), Judith Leo - PhD (Information and Communication Science and Engineering); Prof. Patrick Ngulube - PhD (Information Science), Lazarus Matizirofa - MSc. (Library and Information Science), Josiline Chigwada - PhD (Information Science)
How Did You Hear About This Call: Word of mouth (e.g. conversations and emails from IOI staff, friends, colleagues, etc.) / Boca a boca (por ejemplo, conversaciones y correos electrónicos del personal del IOI, amigos, colegas, etc.)
Submission Number: 126
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