Applied Research

The Humber College Research Data Management (RDM) Institutional Strategy follows the directives from the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Research Data Management Policy (Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy, 2021), which recognizes that research data management is an essential part of research excellence. The purpose of this document is to provide research data management support to Humber College employees and students who engage in research.

If you would like to download a PDF or Word Document copy of the Strategy, please select from the links below. 

The Humber College RDM Institutional Strategy has a goal to foster a culture of respect for the management of research data and to develop supports for researchers in adopting responsible RDM practices.

The Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy recognizes that a distinctions-based approach is needed to ensure that the unique rights, interests and circumstances of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit are acknowledged, affirmed, and implemented.

Research data related to research by and with the First Nations, Métis, or Inuit whose traditional and ancestral territories are in Canada must be managed in accordance with data management principles developed and approved by the First Nations, Métis, or Inuit communities, and on the basis of free, prior and informed consent. This includes, but is not limited to, considerations of Indigenous data sovereignty, as well as data collection, ownership, protection, use, and sharing. The principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP®) are one model for First Nations data governance, but this model does not necessarily respond to the needs and values of distinct First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities, collectives and organizations.

Humber College Research Data Management Strategy recognizes these rights and promotes that “a distinctions-based approach is needed to ensure that the unique rights, interests and circumstances of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit are acknowledged, affirmed, and implemented". (Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy, 2021)

In March 2021, the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy was released. This policy has three main components:

1. Institutional Strategy - “Each postsecondary institution and research hospital eligible to administer CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC funds is required to create an institutional RDM strategy and notify the agencies when it has been completed.”
2. Data Management Plans - “All grant proposals submitted to the agencies should include methodologies that reflect best practices in RDM. For certain funding opportunities, the agencies will require data management plans (DMPs) to be submitted to the appropriate agency at the time of application.”
3. Data Deposit - “Grant recipients are required to deposit into a digital repository all digital research data, metadata and code that directly support the research conclusions in journal publications and pre-prints that arise from agency-supported research.”

As of January 2023, the Humber College RDM Strategy Advisory Committee included College representatives from various departments, offices and faculties. Each member provides input on the development and review of the Humber RDM Strategy.

Representatives include members from:

This strategy focuses specifically on research data and does not include institutional data (see Humber Data Governance Policy).

Identifying stakeholders and providing appropriate resources and materials are essential in delivering effective RDM services. Local RDM champions at Humber College, such as the research ethics board, librarians, research support staff at the Office of Research and Innovation, are instrumental in helping to promote RDM and can assist in DMP training and supporting RDM throughout the research lifecycle.

• Data Management Plan (DMP)
• Digital Research Alliance of Canada (DRAC)
• Office of Research & Innovation (ORI)
• Research Data Management (RDM): The storage, access and preservation of data produced from a given investigation. Data management practices cover the entire lifecycle of the data, from planning the investigation to conducting it, and from backing up data as they are created and used to long-term preservation of data deliverables after the research investigation has concluded. Specific activities and issues that fall within the category of data management include file naming conventions; data quality control and quality assurance; data access; data documentation (including levels of uncertainty); metadata creation and controlled vocabularies; data storage, data archiving and preservation; data sharing and reuse; data integrity; data security; data privacy; data rights; and notebook protocols (lab or field).

1. ​​​​​Support Indigenous Research Data Management processes and activities

• Create circles of conversations with Indigenous partners regarding how to ensure Indigenous Research Data Governance and Sovereignty is supported and understood.
• Create data management related workshops for both internal and external partners.
• Liaise with appropriate partners in further developing RDM capacity for Indigenous research within Humber College.

2. Provide training, resources, and education on the stages of the data management lifecycle

• Develop RDM training documents, graphics, and resources available on a research resources website.
• Develop training workshops for faculty, staff and students that are accessible and can be delivered in a hybrid manner.
• Develop a glossary of terms that can be consistently referenced throughout the institution and updated regularly.
• Develop guidelines and best practice documents to support RDM throughout the research data lifecycle.
• Offer educational opportunities around data transferring procedures and policies as developed.
• Begin to develop capacity that will lead to RDM policy development post 3 years of Strategy implementation.
• Develop data management workshops that can be delivered to both internal and external research teams and partners.

3. Continue to expand and increase the capacity for RDM expertise at Humber College

• Develop workplans that align with strategy overall and identify yearly metrics to be tracked
• Create faculty and staff champions to represent research data lifecycle examples
• Create working groups for continuous monitoring of research data repositories to enable safe data transfer, data depositing and curation, and sharing.
• Use and integrate resources that exist provincially and nationally to further RDM education within the institution
• Liaise with Ontario Colleges Community of Practice, Heads of Applied Research, and College Librarians to provide educational opportunities and scope possibilities for RDM development and support.
• Connect with Compute Ontario and DRAC for further educational opportunities.

Humber’s Indigenous Research Guide https://libguides.humber.ca/Indigenous-Research-Guide

Humber Data Governance Policy https://humber.ca/legal-and-risk-management/policies/general-administration/data-governance-policy.html

Humber Research Ethics Board https://www.humber.ca/ppdr/humber-research-ethics-board

Acceptable Use Policy for Digital Services https://humber.ca/legal-and-risk-management/policies/general-administration/acceptable-use-policy-for-digital-services.html

Access and Privacy Policy https://humber.ca/legal-and-risk-management/policies/general-administration/access-and-privacy-policy.html

IT (Information Technology) Security Policy https://humber.ca/legal-and-risk-management/policies/general-administration/it-security-policy.html

Integrity in Research & Scholarship Policy https://humber.ca/legal-and-risk-management/policies/academic/integrity-in-research-and-scholarship-policy.html 

Intellectual Property Policy https://humber.ca/legal-and-risk-management/policies/academic/intellectual-property-policy.html

Research and Teaching Involving Biohazardous and Radioactive Materials Policy https://humber.ca/legal-and-risk-management/policies/academic/research-and-teaching-involving-biohazardous-and-radioactive-materials-policy.html

Humber College Research Contracts, Grants and Funds Administration Policy https://humber.ca/legal-and-risk-management/index.php?q=policies/academic/research-contracts-grants-and-fund-administration-policy.html

Humber Commercialization Statement https://humber.ca/legal-and-risk-management/policies/academic/commercialization-policy.html

Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy (2021) https://science.gc.ca/site/science/en/interagency-research-funding/policies-and-guidelines/research-data-management/tri-agency-research-data-management-policy

Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy – Frequently Asked Questions (2021) https://science.gc.ca/site/science/en/interagency-research-funding/policies-and-guidelines/research-data-management/tri-agency-research-data-management-policy-frequently-asked-questions