OPEN ACCESS RESEARCH AND
RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENTPOLICYThe University of Exeter recognises that Open Access to both research
papers and research data allows greater visibility of research and can stimulate newresearch opportunities and collaborations. Making research papers and data Open
Access has been shown to increase the number of citations and the re-use of data
can lead to new research opportunities and means that that data does not have to be
recreated unnecessarily. New research can build on existing research to further
discovery.
The University’s Open Access Research and Research Data Management
Policy supports the RCUK position that publicly funded research is a public good thatshould be made openly available to the public when legally, commercially andethically appropriate. This policy is designed to help support researchers comply withfunding bodies’ requirements on Open Access to research papers and on researchdata management. This is paramount as the University risks loss of income if it fails
to satisfy funders’ expectations in this area.
The University recognises that good practice in research data management isa key part of research excellence. Research data is a valuable asset, and its goodmanagement brings benefits to the researcher, the University and the wider
community. Examples of such benefits include ensuring that research data is storedsafely thus avoiding data loss, the possibility of validating research findings and theability to reuse and share data sets.
The following policy is intended to clarify the University’s expectations on
Open Access and research data management. All researchers should comply withthis policy with regards to Open Access to research papers from 1st April 2013. Allresearchers should comply with this policy with regards to research data from 1stOctober 2013. The University recognises that the transition to Open Access requires
significant cultural change and expects compliance with the policy with regards toresearch papers to grow over a transition period of 2 years.
1.
The University of Exeter supports the principles of Open Access to research
papers and, where legally, commercially and ethically appropriate, to the researchdata of its research community.
2.
Researchers should always comply with funder policy on Open Accesspublishing and research data management.

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3.
Research data will be managed to agreed standards throughout the researchdata lifecycle. These standards are defined in the accompanying documentation.
4.
All research proposals must include research data management plans that
address the capture, management, integrity, confidentiality, security, selection,preservation and disposal, commercialisation, costs, sharing and publication ofresearch data and the production of descriptive metadata to aid discovery and re-use
when relevant.
5.
The University is responsible for the provision of training, support and advice
on Open Access and research data management as well as the provision of abacked-up storage service for completed digital research data and for Open Accessresearch papers.
6.
Responsibility for research data management during any research project lies
jointly with Principal Investigators (PIs) and researcher(s). Lead authors are
responsible for complying with funder and University policy on Open Accessresearch papers.
7.
All researchers should deposit the research papers they produce whilst
employed at the University on Open Access in the institutional repository, Open
Research Exeter (ORE), as soon as publisher restrictions will allow. Embargo
periods of 6-24 months are standard depending on funder requirements. To protect
the interests of learned societies and smaller, non-profit publishers, the Universitysupports an embargo period of up to 3 years. The University has mandated thegreen route to Open Access (via the institutional repository) as its standard route forsharing research freely and openly.
8.
All digital research data that has been selected for retention should be offered
and assessed for deposit and preservation in an appropriate University, national orinternational data service or domain repository, unless specified otherwise in thedata management plan. Valid reasons for non-deposit include commercial andconfidentiality issues. Published research papers should include a short statement
describing how and on what terms any supporting research data may be accessed.
9.
All research data that has been selected for retention should be registeredwith the University’s data repository, even if the data is retained in a national orinternational data service or domain repository or if the data is not suitable forpublishing on Open Access.
10.
Data that has been selected for retention should not be deposited with anyorganisation that does not commit to its access and availability for re-use, unless thisis a condition of funding or would prevent commercial interests.
11.
The Research and Knowledge Transfer Management Group will beresponsible for reviewing the policy. The policy will be updated regularly.
Open Access Research and Research Data Management Policy
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