Overview

Data is one of a researcher’s most valuable assets, but managing it effectively is increasingly complex. This hands-on workshop brings together the essentials of Research Data Management (RDM), the practical use of drUM (the University of Malta’s data repository powered by Figshare), and key legal, ethical, and governance considerations relevant to research.

Participants will be guided through the research data life cycle - from planning and organising data, to securing, documenting, and preparing it for long-term preservation and sharing in line with FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). The session also introduces drUM workflows and provides practical experience in uploading datasets to the institutional repository.

In addition, the workshop will address core legal, ethical, and governance considerations related to research data, including GDPR compliance, anonymisation versus pseudonymisation, intellectual property, and accountability within research teams. Emphasis will be placed on preparing research data for sharing and reuse in a manner that is both ethically sound and legally compliant.

The following topics will be covered:

• Why RDM matters: Drivers, real-world cases, benefits to researchers.
• Research data life cycle: Managing your data from planning to reusing.
• Identify the differences between raw and processed data.
• Best practices for organising and documenting research data.
• Data storage and security.
• Tools for data anonymisation and encryption.
• Ethics, legislation (GDPR), and research team responsibilities
• Data accountability and responsibility in research projects
• Intellectual Property Rights
• The importance of archiving research data
• drUM and research data – UM archiving of data
• Recognise what type of data should be uploaded to drUM and at what stage in the research project.
• Understand the drUM workflows.
• Know how to upload material to drUM.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will

• Apply the principles of Research Data Management to organise, document, and secure data throughout the research lifecycle, ensuring it is ready for long-term reuse.
• Identify lawful bases for processing research data, distinguishing between anonymisation and pseudonymisation to ensure all sharing and archiving is ethically sound and GDPR-compliant.
• Use the drUM platform with confidence, understanding the specific workflows for uploading, managing, and disseminating processed research data via the UM Library.

Note:

• Participants are asked to bring their laptops.
• Participants are encouraged to bring a sample dataset (less than 1GB) for uploading during the session.