Research Data Management in Higher Education Institutions: Literature Review

This chapter examines the global literature on research data management (RDM), with an emphasis on higher education institutions (HIEs) and their libraries. The status of RDM services, as well as the competency requirements of employees responsible for providing RDM services and researchers, are addressed in the examined literature. A survey of such material would greatly contribute to a better understanding of development activities suited for RDM implementation, as well as influencing the RDM agendas of HIEs and their libraries in terms of growth and development. Many universities and their libraries have participated and continue to engage in delivering RDM services to their user populations; nonetheless, RDM techniques are more commonly accepted in industrialized countries than in developing countries. Most African institutions are still in the implementation stage of delivering RDM services, owing to several constraints such as a lack of RDM legislative duties, finance, resources, infrastructure, and insufficient expertise. Among other African countries, there is reason to believe that South Africa is on the cutting edge of offering RDM services. There is a wide range of competences necessary for research data management, but information skills, data curation, and IT technology skills are the most important. Knowledge of both research methodologies and curation is an absolute prerequisite for both RDM employees and researchers. It has been noticed that necessary skills and information may be included into the school curriculum or begun through trainings, workshops, and other skill development programs, initiatives, and techniques.