Future Data Services: Strategic Fellowship 2022
Lead Research Organisation:
University of the West of England
Department Name: Faculty of Business and Law
Abstract
The UK has a rich and generally well-supported data services landscape. However, in the coming years, there are likely to be a number of challenges in the provision of data services: recent years have seen significant changes to access rules, the legislative framework, user needs, technology, public perceptions, and so on. In addition, our understanding of how data services can best be provided has changed. There are many examples, in the UK and abroad, of good practice, effective technology, and successful communication or engagement, but it is not clear that the UK has learned lessons and disseminated knowledge appropriately.
This Fellowship will be instrumental in setting future the UK's data research strategy for the foreseeable future, by
- helping UKRI ensure that it has a clear understanding of what its future investments are designed to achieve, and how funding can be targeted to achieve it most effectively; and
- identifying gaps, networks opportunities for learning, and areas of rationalisation
The UK data landscape is relatively well-endowed with leading researchers and practitioners, examples of good practice, and supportive legislation. Nevertheless, there are areas of significant learning for the UK if it is to fully leverage its existing investment, and maximise the value of the future investment.
The specific objectives are to
- lead a strategic review of the data services landscape
- develop options for future long-term investments in social science data services infrastructure, paying particular attention to the different cost streams of different parts of the data services landscape
- draw up the scientific and strategic case for investment in data services by ESRC beyond 2024
- identify areas where smaller-scale investments and activities may usefully supplement major long-term investments
- develop and implement a stakeholder engagement plan for the Future Data Services programme.
The PI, Green is a rising figure in this area as both an early career researcher and a practitioner. She is supported by a highly multi-disciplinary effective network of researchers who are at the forefront of areas across diverse domains of data management. Green regularly engages with a variety of practitioners and policymakers across all areas of data access, management, governance, and use. The combination of her personal and organisational credibility offers a viable platform to deliver the main outcomes of this fellowship as part of UKRI's wider strategic goals.
This Fellowship will be instrumental in setting future the UK's data research strategy for the foreseeable future, by
- helping UKRI ensure that it has a clear understanding of what its future investments are designed to achieve, and how funding can be targeted to achieve it most effectively; and
- identifying gaps, networks opportunities for learning, and areas of rationalisation
The UK data landscape is relatively well-endowed with leading researchers and practitioners, examples of good practice, and supportive legislation. Nevertheless, there are areas of significant learning for the UK if it is to fully leverage its existing investment, and maximise the value of the future investment.
The specific objectives are to
- lead a strategic review of the data services landscape
- develop options for future long-term investments in social science data services infrastructure, paying particular attention to the different cost streams of different parts of the data services landscape
- draw up the scientific and strategic case for investment in data services by ESRC beyond 2024
- identify areas where smaller-scale investments and activities may usefully supplement major long-term investments
- develop and implement a stakeholder engagement plan for the Future Data Services programme.
The PI, Green is a rising figure in this area as both an early career researcher and a practitioner. She is supported by a highly multi-disciplinary effective network of researchers who are at the forefront of areas across diverse domains of data management. Green regularly engages with a variety of practitioners and policymakers across all areas of data access, management, governance, and use. The combination of her personal and organisational credibility offers a viable platform to deliver the main outcomes of this fellowship as part of UKRI's wider strategic goals.
Publications
Green E
(2023)
The present and future of the Five Safes framework
in Journal of Privacy and Confidentiality
Green E
(2023)
Using pedagogical and psychological insights to train analysts using confidential data
in Journal of Privacy and Confidentiality
| Description | The Future Data Services (FDS) project, funded to help shape the Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) long-term investments in data services infrastructure, has uncovered several key insights into the current challenges and opportunities in data access, data curation, researcher training, and the career structures of data professionals. Key Findings 1. Legal, Ethical, and Data Access Challenges - Researchers face inconsistent legal interpretations when accessing data, often receiving conflicting advice from data service staff. - The time required to access data is a major barrier, sometimes delaying projects by years. - Ethical concerns arise around where restrictive access policies may unintentionally harm inclusivity in research. - AI and machine learning introduce new complexities, raising concerns over whether data services have the expertise to handle evolving technology-related risks. 2. Training and Career Development Gaps in Data Services - Many data professionals enter the field by chance rather than design, with no clear career pathways. - Soft skills, such as communication and leadership, are as crucial as technical skills, but they are often underrepresented in training. - The high turnover rate among data service staff leads to a loss of institutional knowledge and inconsistent data access procedures. - Academic-style recruitment practices do not match the actual requirements of data service jobs, leading to a mismatch in hiring expectations. 3. Challenges in Measuring - Current measurement tools focus on quantitative indicators, which may not fully capture the long-term behavioral and policy effects of research/ data service staff. 4. Testing New Approaches to Community Building - A three-day retreat on data output checking demonstrated the benefits of in-person peer learning revealing a strong demand for structured training and community-building events among data service professionals. |
| Exploitation Route | 1. For Researchers and Universities - Improve training on data access and governance at the early career stage, particularly in PhD programs. - Advocate for more consistent data access policies across repositories. - Develop mentorship programs to support early-career researchers in navigating data governance challenges. 2. For Funders - Support standardized career progression pathways for data professionals to reduce turnover. - Provide dedicated funding for impact measurement, ensuring researchers can track the influence of their work. - Fund data curation initiatives, ensuring high-quality metadata and documentation for research datasets. 3. For Data Service Providers - Introduce clearer communication channels and training programs to reduce delays and inconsistencies in data access. - Adopt hybrid training models, combining technical expertise with real-world case studies. - Establish cross-institutional networks, enabling small data teams to share expertise and avoid duplication of effort. 4. For Policymakers - Develop legal clarity and harmonization in data governance policies to streamline researcher access while maintaining ethical safeguards. - Address concerns about commercial data access and ensure research-driven data use remains a priority. This project has laid the groundwork for significant improvements in how research data services function in the UK. By addressing career development issues, clarifying legal challenges, and fostering collaboration between researchers and data professionals, these findings can contribute to more efficient, inclusive, and impactful research. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Security and Diplomacy |
| URL | https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13403298 |
| Description | Feeding into national strategy and policy development of data services |
| Description | Survey with data users and services |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Approx 100 research users completed the survey to explore current use and experience of UK data services |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |