FDM@HAW.rlp

The project FDM@HAW.rlp (RDM@UAS.rlp) is a joint project of eight universities of applied sciences (UAS) in Rhineland-Palatinate, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Against the background of the increasing importance and quantity of digital research data, it aims to establish uniform standards as well as common infrastructures and consulting services for the management of research data (RDM) at UAS. It is also designed to link to existing structures at universities in Rhineland-Palatinate (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, TU Kaiserslautern, University of Trier). Another goal is networking with existing regional and national RDM initiatives. By the fall of 2025, inventory and needs analyses are to be conducted at the participating universities, which will then form the basis for the subsequent establishment of sustainable and quality-assured research data infrastructures as well as consulting services for researchers. Another component of the project work is creating awareness among researchers at UAS for the topic of RDM as well as developing and increasing the corresponding competences in this area.

In addition to Mainz University of Applied Sciences, the universities of applied sciences in Bingen, Kaiserslautern, Koblenz, Ludwigshafen, Trier and Worms as well as the Catholic University of Applied Sciences Mainz are involved in the project.

RDM Scouts

Each university has an RDM Scout working on competence development and the identification of needs for RDM. They are the contacts for researchers and provide general or individual advice on RDM for specific application projects. The Scouts are contacts for researchers on the following aspects of RDM, among others:

• RDM requirements of the third-party funders (FAIR)
• Creation of an RDM plan or a data management plan  
• RDM concept in the application
• Guidance on the legal aspects of RDM
• Data management
• Long-term archiving and open access

RDM Stewards
RDM Stewards at universities identify requirements and needs of individual disciplines and are available for discipline-specific consultation on a statewide basis. Researchers can contact the Stewards with questions including with regard to the following:

• Creation of subject-specific, low-threshold training, consulting and information services
• Communication of existing RDM services (tools, databases, repositories, consulting and information services)
• Individual and comprehensive advice and support in subject-specific matters
• Communication with NFDI (national research data infrastructure) consortia

Project Management and coordination
The Project Management is located at the Mainz University of Applied Sciences and coordinates the activities and the achievement of the set goals of the joint project. They connect the project with other RDM initiatives nationwide and with the National Research Data Infrastructure consortia. They are happy to answer general questions about the project and are the contact for cooperation and networking.

Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is made up of the Vice Presidents for Research of the universities participating in the joint project.