<div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:6px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;font-family:"Droid Sans",sans-serif;vertical-align:top;line-height:24px;color:rgb(51,51,51)"><img src="http://www.codata.org/uploads/images/RDM_news-1.png" alt="" width="300" height="202" style="margin: 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: top; float: right;"></p><p style="margin:6px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;font-family:"Droid Sans",sans-serif;vertical-align:top;line-height:24px;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Institutions now have a new means at their disposal to aid them in assessing their research data management initiatives, the Evaluating RDM Tool.  </p><p style="margin:6px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;font-family:"Droid Sans",sans-serif;vertical-align:top;line-height:24px;color:rgb(51,51,51)">A collaborative creation, the tool was developed using the SPARC Europe <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-style:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:top"><a href="https://sparceurope.org/what-we-do/open-access/sparc-europe-open-access-resources/open-research-checklist-institutions/" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:top;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(59,102,60)">How Open is Your Research service</a></strong> and the <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-style:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:top"><a href="http://www.dcc.ac.uk/" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:top;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(59,102,60)">Digital Curation Centre’s</a> <a href="http://www.dcc.ac.uk/resources/how-guides/RISE" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:top;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(59,102,60)">RISE Framework</a></strong>.</p><p style="margin:6px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;font-family:"Droid Sans",sans-serif;vertical-align:top;line-height:24px;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“We wanted to create something that would go beyond providing initial RDM guidance,” said SPARC Europe Director, Vanessa Proudman. “This tool should help with the next phase, aiding institutions as they continue to improve and evolve their RDM programmes and practices.”</p><p style="margin:6px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;font-family:"Droid Sans",sans-serif;vertical-align:top;line-height:24px;color:rgb(51,51,51)">As for how it works, users are invited to answer a selection of questions. Based on their responses, three downloadable radar charts are generated providing insights into: the breadth or range of RDM services provided by the institution; the degree to which RDM services are being tailored to specific users; and lastly, whether or not the initiatives are “sector leading”.</p><p style="margin:6px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;font-family:"Droid Sans",sans-serif;vertical-align:top;line-height:24px;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Marta Teperek, Data Stewardship Coordinator at TU Delft, described the Evaluating RDM Tool as a “quick and easy means to help assess RDM readiness at your institution and to visualise gaps.”</p><p style="margin:6px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;font-family:"Droid Sans",sans-serif;vertical-align:top;line-height:24px;color:rgb(51,51,51)">The tool is free to use. Any question regarding its use may be directed to <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-style:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:top"><a href="mailto:info@sparceurope.org" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:top;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(59,102,60)">info@sparceurope.org</a></strong>.</p><p style="margin:6px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;font-family:"Droid Sans",sans-serif;vertical-align:top;line-height:24px;color:rgb(51,51,51)"><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-style:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:top"><a href="https://sparceurope.org/evaluate-your-rdm-offering/" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:top;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(59,102,60)">Try out the Evaluate your RDM Offering Tool</a></strong></p><p style="margin:6px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;font-family:"Droid Sans",sans-serif;vertical-align:top;line-height:24px;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Thanks,</p><p style="margin:6px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;font-family:"Droid Sans",sans-serif;vertical-align:top;line-height:24px;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Asha</p><div><br></div>-- <div><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:12.8px">___________________________</span><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small">Asha Law | Program Assistant, CODATA | <a href="http://www.codata.org/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">http://www.codata.org</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small">E-Mail: <a href="mailto:asha@codata.org" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">asha@codata.org</a><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small">Tel (Office): +33 1 45 25 04 96</div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small">CODATA (Committee on Data of the International Council for Science), 5 rue Auguste Vacquerie, 75016 Paris, FRANCE</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>