Appendix A - Response to the Assessment Criteria
A.1 Need for Proposal
Institutional repositories “have the potential to improve organizational efficiency by utilizing the one mechanism to improve research accessibility, rationalise information management within each institution and provide research assessment data to government and other funding agencies”[1]. RUBRIC will provide a much needed strategic approach to repositories infrastructure at a regional level where isolated attempts have had limited success. A collaborative approach facilitates sharing expert knowledge and establishes a platform of common ground for future development. “The cost of not acting quickly… could be high, both in opportunities lost and in increased fragmentation and balkanization of the research communities”[2].
The Research Quality Framework (RQF) drives an even greater need to expose research output in the most sustainable and accessible way possible. Through RUBRIC, strategic and long-term benefits will be derived through the application of standards from data capture through to storage, classification, preservation, retrieval, re-use and rights management. The collaborative nature of this project will contribute to consensus regarding solutions to regional issues, create an invaluable support network for the Universities involved and enable well-formed business practices to emerge. Specific outcomes have been outlined in section 5 of the proposal.
A.2 Relevance and signifance of the proposal in terms of the objectives of os the SII as described in Backing Australia's Ability
Regional institutions often have specialized research areas, the exposure of which is valuable on a national (and often international) basis. RUBRIC will establish sustainable infrastructure that builds on best practice outcomes of FRODO and related projects in order to capture and expose research output of participating universities. The regional focus will foster the participation of regional academics and researchers and help them adapt to the changing publishing environment.
A.3 Cost-effectiveness of the proposal
The proposal will enable a bulk purchase and installation of the necessary software for up to 13 institutions, hastening the process and uptake of new technologies. Increased exposure of research output will have a positive effect on the development of research activities in those universities. Sharing of expertise will reduce deployment costs for participants and give them access to valuable support.
A.4 Effectiveness of co-operative arrangements between providers
Shared expertise will enable smaller universities to tap into significant areas of speciality that they would otherwise have limited exposure to. Collaborating partners show financial commitment and support as per the “in-kind” area of the budget.
A.5 Capacity to sustain the activity in the future
RUBRIC will develop capability that will enable regional universities to embed ongoing management of repository infrastructure into existing support systems.
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