• Section 1 - Purpose
• Section 2 - Authority
• Section 3 - Scope
• Section 4 - Procedure
• Responsible Data Management
• Indigenous Data Sovereignty
• Integrity and Reproducibility
• Research Data and Primary Materials
• Section 5 - Definitions

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) The responsible management of data and primary materials by the RMIT Group and researchers is a requirement of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018 (the Code) in addition to legal, statutory, and ethical requirements, and discipline best practice. It includes the generation, collection, access, use and re-use, analysis, disclosure or sharing, storage, retention, disposal, or any other processing of research data (including sensitive data), primary materials and records.

Section 2 - Authority

(2) Authority for this document is established by the Research Policy.

Section 3 - Scope

(3) This procedure applies to all research activities, regardless of discipline or scope, that produce research data including associated records or notes and primary materials in some form.

(4) This procedure applies to all staff, students, visiting researchers and honorary and adjunct appointees undertaking or supporting research at all RMIT Group and external research locations, and any research RMIT is obliged to consider.

Section 4 - Procedure

Responsible Data Management

(5) Research teams, including supervisors and students have a joint responsibility to manage research data and primary materials in a manner that upholds RMIT Values and principles of the Code including:

1. Principle 2, ‘Rigour in the development, undertaking and reporting of research’, which requires that research be characterised by attention to detail and robust methodology and that researchers avoid or acknowledge biases.
2. Principle 3, ‘Transparency in declaring interests and reporting research methodology, data and findings’, which requires researchers where possible and appropriate, to share and communicate research methodology, data and findings openly, responsibly and accurately.
3. Principle 6, ‘Recognition of the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be engaged in research that affects or is of particular interest to them’, which specifies that researchers report to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples the outcomes of research in which they have engaged.
4. Principle 7, ‘Accountability for the development, undertaking and reporting of research’ so as to comply with relevant legislation, policies and guidelines and ensure good stewardship of public resources used to conduct research.

Indigenous Data Sovereignty

(6) Researchers will recognise and respect Indigenous Data Sovereignty while addressing and adhering to the requirements of this procedure. Indigenous Data Sovereignty is defined as the right of Indigenous peoples to govern the collection, ownership and application of data about Indigenous communities, peoples, lands, and resources.

(7) Research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples or involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ collections will comply with the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research, recognising and respecting that contributions of Indigenous data and knowledge should be acknowledged through ongoing ownership, control and/or access for Indigenous peoples. In the event of an inconsistency or conflict between accessibility and Indigenous people’s rights, then Indigenous peoples’ rights should take precedence.

Integrity and Reproducibility

(8) Researchers will retain clear, accurate and complete records of all research including research data and primary materials. Researchers will make records at a sufficient standard to allow verification and/or reproduction of research by others.

(9) See also, the RMIT Information Governance Policy and related Standards.

(10) Before commencing a research project, researchers will document and adhere to a data management plan that is suitable for their research and/or research project. Research Data Management Plans are research records and must be maintained as such (see above). Researchers may use the RMIT Research Data Management Plan template, or choose to develop their own template consistent with the requirements and norms of their discipline.

(11) Researchers will report any actual or suspected breach of the Code or of security or confidentiality to the relevant person/s at RMIT.

(12) Research teams, including supervisors and students, have a joint responsibility for the responsible collection, storage, sharing, security and use of research data and primary materials.

Research Data and Primary Materials

Collection

(13) Researchers will collect research data and primary materials in accordance with principles and responsibilities of the Code, legal, statutory, and ethical requirements, discipline best practice and institutional policy.

Storage

(14) The University will provide facilities for the safe and secure storage and maintenance of research data, primary materials and records.

(15) Researchers will record, through a Data Management Plan, where research data, primary materials and records for their research are stored and maintained. Research data will be stored in shared locations accessible and managed by more than one staff member to facilitate continuity of access. Continuity of access arrangements will be documented in the Research Data Management Plan.

(16) Researchers will record in their Data Management Plans how institutional access to research data, primary materials and records will be maintained if their employment at RMIT ceases. Data Management Plans will include provision for a nominated School-based data custodian to enable RMIT to meet its retention and data management obligations.

(17) Researchers will store research data, primary materials and records in the safe and secure facilities provided by the University and/or other trusted storage facilities, platforms and services in accordance with the Code and any contractual agreements that may apply.

(18) Research data, primary materials and records collected off-campus will, as soon as practicable, be transferred to safe and secure storage facilities provided by the University unless contractual agreements state otherwise.

Ownership

(19) By default, the University is considered to be the owner of research data and primary materials, but the ownership of research data, primary materials and records may be influenced by funding and other research agreements, commercial potential, contractual obligations, collaboration, academic norms and other factors.

(20) In relation to sensitive data, the University is the controller by default but may be a joint-controller or a processor of sensitive data when undertaking joint research projects or activities as directed by funding or other research agreements or related data processing agreements.

(21) The ownership and proposed processing activities of research data and primary materials will be recorded in the Data Management Plan before the commencement of a research project.

(22) Ownership of intellectual property is governed by RMIT’s Intellectual Property Policy.

Access and Sharing

(23) Where possible and appropriate, researchers and/or the University will allow access and reference to research data and primary materials by others, while safeguarding the privacy of participants, protecting confidential data and intellectual property, protecting sensitive data, and honouring any contractual arrangements including funding body and publisher requirements. This can include sharing research data using trusted open access platforms, services and journals. (See also, the Dissemination of Research Outputs Procedure.)

(24) The University may access, use or share research data and primary materials in accordance with the Code, confidentiality requirements, legislation, applicable privacy laws, RMIT’s Privacy Policy, and other guidelines.

Confidentiality

(25) Confidential information will only be used in ways agreed with the persons providing it and managed in accordance with RMIT policy, contractual and other legal obligations, as well as any related ethical approvals for the research project or activity.

Retention

(26) Research data will be retained for at least the minimum period specified in RMIT policy unless contractual agreements or an exemption state otherwise. The retention period may be longer to allow reference by other researchers, and to accommodate regulatory and sponsor requirements and archival and historical value.

(27) Where practical, primary materials will be retained for a minimum of seven years after completion of the project or publication (whichever is later) unless contractual agreements state otherwise.

(28) Where it is not practical to retain primary materials, durable records derived from them (such as assays, test results, transcripts, and laboratory and field notes) must be retained and accessible for the period outlined in the RMIT Retention and Disposal Authority.

Destruction

(29) The researcher responsible for the creation of the project Research Data Management Plan is also responsible for the secure and safe disposal of the research data and primary materials. If that researcher is a student, the student’s supervisor is responsible for the secure and safe disposal of the research data and primary materials.

(30) Secure and safe disposal of research data and primary materials may only occur after the minimum specified retention period has expired and the relevant person/s at RMIT have been consulted.

(31) Disposal of research data and primary materials will be in accordance with RMIT policy, see the Retention and Disposal Standard and related Destruction of Information Procedure.

(32) If the results from research are challenged, all relevant data and materials will be retained until the matter is resolved. Research data and primary materials that may be relevant to allegations of a breach of research integrity will not be destroyed.

Section 5 - Definitions