Implementing a trusted repository to support the storage and preservation of research data at the national research foundation (NRF)

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to identify critical factors necessary for the implementation of a trusted repository for managing research data. A research data survey was conducted with 36 Information professionals at the NRF to investigate the state of readiness at the organisation for implementing the repository. According to the survey results a need was identified for storage and preservation of student data, databases and reports managed by the Information professionals. Other research data types that are mostly generated were Websites, Databases and manuals that require secure storage. The study further revealed the need for metadata training in the organisation as an important component for research data preservation. More than half of the Information professionals revealed that their metadata is system generated and there is minimum involvement required from them. Through the review of the existing literature and the NRF data survey, the researcher was able to bring forward recommendations that can be applied for improvement of preservation services. Recommendations made include that professionals should be trained, there should be policy development and review of existing research data within the organisation. Secure storage mediums should be an investment for the organisation based on the research data generated through research activities and managed by the NRF professionals.

Morero oa lipatlisiso tsena e ne e le ho supa lintlha tsa bohlokoa tse hlokahalang bakeng sa ho kenya tsebetsong polokelo e tsepahalang ea taolo ea data ea lipatlisiso. Patlisiso ea data ea lipatlisiso e entsoe le litsebi tse 36 tsa Tlhahisoleseling ho NRF ho etsa lipatlisiso tsa boemo ba ho itokisa mokhatlong. Ho latela liphetho tsa phuputso tlhoko e fumanoe ea ho boloka le ho boloka tlhaiso-leseling ea baithuti, marang-rang le litlaleho tse laoloang ke litsebi tsa Tlhahisoleseling. Mefuta e meng ea data ea lipatlisiso e hlahisoang haholo ke Liwebosaete, Libaka tsa boitsebiso le libuka tse hlokang polokelo e bolokehileng. Boithuto bo tsoetse pele ho senola tlhoko ea koetliso ea metadata mokhatlong e le karolo ea bohlokoa bakeng sa ho boloka lintlha tsa lipatlisiso. Ba fetang halofo ea litsebi tsa Tlhahisoleseling ba senotse hore metadata ea bona e entsoe ka sistimi mme ho na le karolo e nyane e hlokahalang ho bona. Ka ho hlahloba lingoliloeng tse seng li ntse li le teng le phuputso ea litaba tsa NRF mofuputsi o ile a khona ho tlisa likhothaletso tse ka sebelisoang ho ntlafatsa litsebeletso tsa polokeho. Litlhahiso tse entsoeng e ne e le koetliso bakeng sa litsebi, nts'etsopele ea leano le tlhahlobo ea lintlha tse teng tsa lipatlisiso ka har'a mokhatlo. Lits'ireletso tse bolokehileng li lokela ho tsetela mokhatlong o ipapisitseng le tlhaiso-leseling e entsoeng ka mesebetsi ea lipatlisiso le ho tsamaisoa ke litsebi tsa NRF.

Inhloso yalolu cwaningo kwakuwukuthola izinto ezibucayi ezidingekayo ekufezeni indawo yokugcina ethembekile yokuphatha idatha yocwaningo. Ucwaningo lwedatha yocwaningo lwenziwa nochwepheshe bezokwaziswa abangama-36 kwa-NRF ukuphenya isimo sokulungela kule nhlangano. Ngokwemiphumela yocwaningo kwahlonzwa isidingo sokugcinwa kanye nokulondolozwa kwemininingwane yabafundi, imininingwane yolwazi kanye nemibiko ephethwe ngochwepheshe boLwazi. Ezinye izinhlobo zedatha yocwaningo ezikhiqizwa kakhulu ngamaWebhusayithi, amaDathabhe namabhukwana adinga ukugcinwa okuphephile. Ucwaningo luqhubeke lwembula isidingo sokuqeqeshwa kwemethadatha kule nhlangano njengengxenye ebalulekile yokulondolozwa kwedatha yocwaningo. Ngaphezu kwengxenye yochwepheshe boLwazi baveze ukuthi imethadatha yabo yenziwa ngohlelo futhi kukhona ukubandakanyeka okuncane okudingekayo kubo. Ngokubuyekezwa kwemibhalo ekhona kanye nenhlolovo yedatha ye-NRF umcwaningi ukwazile ukuletha izincomo ezingasetshenziswa ukwenza ngcono izinsizakalo zokulondolozwa. Izincomo ezenziwe kwaba ukuqeqeshwa kochwepheshe, ukuthuthukiswa kwenqubomgomo nokubuyekezwa kwedatha yocwaningo ekhona ngaphakathi kwenhlangano. Izindlela zokugcina ezivikelekile kufanele kube wutshalo-mali lwenhlangano olususelwa kwimininingwane yocwaningo eyenziwe ngemisebenzi yocwaningo futhi ephethwe ngabachwepheshe be-NRF.