Research Data Management is the process of controlling the information generated during a research project. Any research will require some level of data management, and funding agencies are increasingly requiring scholars to plan and execute good data management practices. Managing data is an integral part of the research process. It can be challenging particularly when studies involve several researchers and/or when studies are conducted from multiple locations. How data is managed depends on the types of data involved, how data is collected and stored, and how it is used throughout the research lifecycle. https://tinyurl.com/v6yferx

The following RDM services are provided:

• The RDM process and services are aligned with the University of Pretoria's Research Data Management  Policy allowing postgraduate students and researchers to manage data (normally processed data) and its accompanying metadata in the accredited open data repository (Figshare), or an accredited discipline-specific repository
• RDM services support university research activities such as organizing, archiving, and preserving research data
• Researchers are supported with research data management through UP Research Data Repository (Figshare) for Open Data
• Researchers are supported to create and connect research data profiles using the UP Research Data Repository (Figshare). Figshare profile pulls research data publications together in one place
• The RDM services include training, guiding, and consulting postgraduate students and researchers to learn the process of preserving and archiving processed research data throughout the research life cycle. This includes research data that underpins the theses/dissertations and journal contribution

Data Management Plan (DMP)

• The RDM services include helping postgraduate students and researchers to create plans for the ethical clearance process, research proposals, and projects
• Researchers, postgraduate students, and supervisors are encouraged to use the DMP Template in creating data plans
• DLS provides guidance on DMPs to meet funder requirements and cover the following processes: collecting data, methodology, labeling and documenting data, ethics, and compliance, storing and backing, data selection and preservation, data sharing, responsibilities and resources on research data

Research output, research data, and metadata management services

• The DLS cares about research output and maintains metadata standards for outputs and research data to be discoverable and accessible through search engines
• Metadata management services include helping students and researchers to understand their own publication’s metadata including research data by adding documentation and metadata for others to discover and reuse their data
• Postgraduate students and researchers learn the process of structuring their data to include the title, author, keywords, description, license, and funder

Search Existing Data

• UP Research Data Repository (Figshare)
• SA Figshare
• Figshare International
• re3data
• DataCite

RDM at UP

• Research Data Management
• RDM Policy and Procedure
• Plan and Create your Data Management
• Funder Requirements
• Metadata Management
• Metadata Elements and Guidance
• RDM Toolkit
• Research Data Management (RDM) Guide 

Deposit Your Data

• Figshare
• Open Science Framework (OSF)