Title of Service: Research Support
Status of Document: This document presents the general responsibilities of OUCS in providing support for the advanced use of ICT in research to Oxford University.
1. Introduction
1.1 OUCS offers support in the use of advanced ICT in research processes, to assist various stages of the research process including:
- project planning;
- writing research grant applications;
- resource discovery and access management;
- data creation, use and analysis;
- collaboration and communication;
- research data publication, curation and preservation.
1.2 OUCS seeks to develop the digital research infrastructure, to enhance the distributed network, services, tools, and support operations which facilitate the research community’s discovery of, and access to research resources, analysis tools, and advanced communication or collaboration technologies. A more effective infrastructure will lower the barriers to embarking on research computing, and make new forms of research possible.
1.3 One of the means by which OUCS supports research is through the InfoDev team which provides both the Web Design Consultancy and the Research Technologies Service. InfoDev provides a contact point and centre of expertise in research computing and funding for digital research projects.
1.4 OUCS will lead or collaborate on projects that pilot digital technologies on behalf of the University, in particular to contribute to the development of virtual research environments, and the provision of ICT services relevant to research across the academic divisions. Responses to funding opportunities are primarily driven by the strategic ICT requirements of the University.
1.5 The 'Research Support' webpages and the researchsupport@oucs.ox.ac.uk email address and ticketing system act as a single initial point of contact, information and as a gateway to the numerous services and activities across the sections of OUCS which support research.
2. Summary of OUCS’s responsibilities
2.1 The service operates 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday excluding University holidays.
2.2 Email queries sent to researchsupport@oucs.ox.ac.uk will usually receive an initial response within one working day. An initial consultancy meeting will be offered free of charge to the user if this is requested and is necessary. Requests for detailed advice or consultancy will be responded to on a reasonable efforts basis.
2.3 Through its various activities OUCS is able to respond to queries on the use of advanced ICT in research, or refer to other known sources of expertise as appropriate. Current areas of expertise include:
- developing IT aspects of funding proposals;
- management of IT-related aspects of research projects;
- assistance with the recruitment of project staff with necessary IT skills;
- requirements gathering;
- open standards for interoperability of data, tools and services;
- web design and website development;
- database design and development;
- development, deployment and commercialisation of open source software;
- access management and authorization technologies;
- XML document encoding and processing;
- computing in the humanities;
- evaluation of digital scholarly resources;
- curation and preservation of digital resources.
2.4 Members of OUCS represent the University on local, national and international bodies, and networks. They collaborate in the sharing and development of expertise, and promote Oxford's research in numerous forums. They raise awareness about research technologies within OUCS and the wider University.
2.5 OUCS collaborates with the Oxford e-Research Centre (OeRC) through membership of the OeRC Directorate and an OUCS-OeRC liaison role. OUCS also develops partnerships to support research with other bodies locally and beyond.
2.6 Training in the use of ICT for research is offered through the OUCS IT Learning Programme and individual project activities. Where the necessary expertise exists, OUCS can offer bespoke training for research projects on a charged basis. Requests for research-related training courses may be submited to the IT Learning Programme directly or via research@oucs.ox.ac.uk.
2.7 OUCS contributes to research specific training with an annual Digital Humanities at Oxford Summer School, and will collaborate with initiatives in other disciplines to develop training activities.
3. Summary of client’s responsibilities
3.1 Users of OUCS services are expected to abide by the University IT Regulations and to comply with any relevant legislation.
3.2 Users of OUCS services are requested to share their knowledge and expertise and experiences to facilitate the building of capacity and shared infrastructure in the University, where this is relevant, and in so far as is reasonable.
3.3 Users of OUCS services are requested to make contact for the purposes of obtaining advice and support at the earliest possible opportunity ahead of deadlines, in order to allow sufficient time for adequate planning of projects and funding applications.
3.4 Users of OUCS services are requested to contact relevant local IT support, administrative, and research facilitation staff in their department, college or other unit, in order to ensure that local procedures are followed and that all stakeholders are informed. This may be necessary, for example, if you plan to make use of local IT resources in your unit as part of your research, or if you plan to make a research grant application.
4. Premium Services
4.1 After free initial advice and a short consultancy session, OUCS will charge for significant effort in planning, carrying out or sustaining research activity as per the InfoDev Charging Policy.
4.2 OUCS, through NSMS, offers a wide range of IT management services for research projects which require from OUCS a level of IT support above the baseline service.
4.3 OUCS welcomes approaches to be a partner in research projects led by University departments. The costing of OUCS participation in any such project must be agreed before any proposal is submitted to a funding body and will be undertaken in accordance with the University's policies on the costing and submission of research grant proposals.