Data Management Plan

Get started

I want to start writing a new Data Management Plan
I want to see my current Plans
Ask a question

How do I write my Data Management Plan?

The task of writing a Data Management Plan (DMP) might seem daunting at first. No worries. We got your back. Stick to these fantastic four steps and you’ll be done in no time.

1. If this is your first time, sign up for an account.

   1. It is advised that you sign up using your UM or MUMC+ email adress. This will enable you to log in using your institutional credentials.

   2. The link above should redirect you to the login page. Click ‘Sign up’ next to 'Need an account?' on the bottom of the card and follow the steps. You will receive a magic link in your mailbox.

2. Get in touch with a Data Management Expert and let them know you will be writing a DMP.

   1. Don't know who your Expert is?
      Head over to our support page. You also have the option to select ‘unknown’ in the form. This however does not guarantee that somebody will take a look at it. Caveat emptor.

3. Start writing your DMP.

   1. Do you wish to save your plan?
      Hit the ‘Send’ button at the bottom of the page. This will generate two copies of your plan, a working document and a document without comments. It does not matter which one you will use, they will always stay in sync.

   2. Do you still need to make adjustments?
      Click the ‘Edit’ button at the top of the following screen. You can always navigate to ‘Your requests’, click the plan you wish to adjust and then click ‘Edit’. Click ‘Save’ at the top of the screen once you’re done editing.

   3. Do you want to share your plan with collaborators?
      Click ‘Share’ and enter their email address on the right hand side of the following screen. You can always navigate to ‘Your requests’, click the plan you wish to share and then click ‘Share’ on the right side of the screen.

4. Generate a PDF export of your DMP and submit it to your funder

   1. Although this can be done at any time, it requires a little bit more instruction. Please refer to the section down below ‘How do I generate an export in PDF?’. It is recommended that you do this after your Data Management Expert has signed off on it.

How do I generate an export in PDF?

This is may not be as obvious. However, once you see it, you cannot ‘unsee’ it.

Head over to ‘Your requests’. Click the title of the plan you wish to export. You should be able to see three little dots next to the forms at the top of the screen (see screenshot). Hit ‘Dowload PDF’ (preferably on the one without comments) and you should be all set!

Open

Click to enlarge

 

What happened to the plans in DMP Maastricht?

If you created a plan based on the institutional template, you should still be able to work on it dynamically. If your plan was based on the ZonMw, NWO or Horizon2020 template, you should be able to retrieve it as a .docx attachment. In either case, you should be able to access your “old” data management plan by accessing ‘Your requests’.

Some of you may have worked with an older version of the Data Management Plan application. High licensing costs, lack of support, dissatisfaction with the service provider and the inability to integrate it into a larger whole were reasons to suspend the contract.

Why do I need a Data Management Expert?

Researchers were previously only obligated to check whether their project adhered to ethical and/or medical guidelines. Nowadays, however, they are required to submit a DMP as well. A DMP will among other things ensure that the data remains findable and becomes reusable after concluding the project.

Most of the major grant providers are implementing a new approach to data management. Earlier, grant providers provided principal investigators/researchers with DMP templates. Researchers in turn filled those out and sent them back to the grant provider for approval. Currently, grant providers are delegating the responsibility of drafting and approving DMP's back to the hosting institution.

Can I use this template with any funder?

This template is constructed in accordance with two of the major grant providers guidelines, namely ZonMw's Key Items and NWO's core requirements.  This ensures the most important criteria are covered for setting up appropriate data management practices. The DMP will sometimes refer to these key items/core requirements and the FAIR Principles. The FAIR principles are guidelines to improve the findability, accessibility, interoperability and reuse of digital assets.

What if I struggle with answering a question?

This template will provide a set of questions you have to answer. All these questions concern how you will be managing your data during the research life-cycle. The questions can be either open-ended (text field), multiple choice (radio buttons) or multiple options (checkboxes). The question will clearly indicate if there are multiple answers possible. Below a lot of questions you will find a short help text and a link to the guidance page.

If you are conducting research outside the Life Sciences faculties, some of the questions may not apply. Feel free to skip those questions or contact one of the Data Stewards/supporting institutions if you're unsure. Research in the Life Sciences usually requires a higher level of specificity in comparison to other faculties/departments.

None of your answers will be considered final. As needs for storage, legislation or technology change, it is also possible for your data management plan to change. However, you should fill out the questions to the best of your knowledge at the start of your project. When you are satisfied with your answers, it is possible to export your DMP to PDF, Word and other formats. The tool also provides the ability to share your plan with potential collaborators. They can in turn provide comments or even help you write the plan together.

A project group containing CTCM, DataHub, MEMIC and the University Library were heavily involved in setting up this template to be approved within both Maastricht University (UM) and Maastricht UMC+ (MUMC+).

Public domain. Unless you work in communications.