Research Management Professionals shaping open data policy and practice at UK universities

In-person presentation given at the ARMA 2025 Conference during session 5.2 at 14:15—14:30 BST on 19 June 2025. Abstract We report on the STAR (Sustainable & TrAnsparent Research data) project, led by the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) and supported by several UK universities. It uses qualitative methods to evaluate the implementation of open research data (ORD) policy and practice, aiming to reveal progress and barriers to ORD; and explores ways in which institutions could better be supported in the curation, publication, and reuse of ORD. In 2024, we held interviews, focus groups, and workshops with 52 Research Management Professionals developing and implementing ORD policy, many of whom are active in ARMA. They include those employed in university divisions such as the research office or library, and represent 21 universities with wide geographical reach; research funding breadths and scales; research community size; and disciplinary focus. In this talk, we will share the experiences of our participants advocating for ORD, including navigating the power structures in a university; engaging with academics of diverse disciplines; or handling the complexities of monitoring ORD practice. Importantly, we summarise co-produced recommendations on how research management labour for ORD can be better recognised and supported in a university setting.