UBC IT
Through its provisioning and licencing of hardware and software to support all UBC activities, UBC’s department of Information Technology (UBC IT) plays an important role in supporting DRI at UBC, providing the research community with access to infrastructure, software and digital tools, as well as privacy and security services to ensure that sensitive research data is properly protected. Given UBC IT’s position within the DRI ecosystem and the number of responses received in the Needs Assessment survey and focus groups, this summary report highlights current areas in which various DRI support and training is sought from UBC IT. Additionally, this report suggests where additional collaboration across departments may strengthen DRI services across UBC as a whole.
As the Needs Assessment team does not have a representative from UBC IT, this page should not be seen as representing the views of UBC IT, but should rather be considered as food for thought for UBC Library and ARC and to potentially initiate discussions around cross-departmental collaboration. As such this page is also limited to key findings, recommendations, and survey highlights.
Key Findings & Recommendations
While UBC IT is a key player in servicing active data storage at UBC, this was a top area in which researchers wanted both training and support, but didn’t know they were available.
Recommendation 1
As UBC ARC is also a leader in this area, coordinate services across these units to maximize efforts, resources, and discoverability of services.
While UBC IT also plays a strong role in servicing retention/deposition/preservation at UBC, this was a top area in which researchers wanted both training and support, but didn’t know they were available.
Recommendation 2
As UBC ARC and UBC Library are also leaders in these areas, coordinate services across these units to maximize efforts, resources, and discoverability of services.
It was noted in both the survey and focus groups that it is very challenging to find accurate and up-to-date guidance on the intersections of privacy, security, and compliance.
Recommendation 3
The UBC IT portfolio is responsible for creating the policies and guidelines for researchers to adhere to, but UBC Ethics gets the bulk of questions about compliance. This gap should be bridged with resources centralized in a single location to support researchers in their ability to conduct research that properly protects research participants.
Highlights
DRI Support & UBC IT
- Hardware purchasing: 36% of researchers who sought support went to UBC IT.
- Active data storage: 29% of researchers who sought support went to UBC IT,
- Security: 25% of researchers who sought support went to UBC IT.
Figure 4.1
DRI Training & UBC IT
- Security: 42% of researchers who sought training went to UBC IT.
- Hardware purchasing: 42% of researchers who sought training went to UBC IT.
- Privacy: 21% of researchers who sought training went to UBC IT.
Figure 4.2
