Preserve data

Your research data are public documents

Material that is part of your research work are considered research documents. In research data management, this may involve, for example, research data, descriptions of these (metadata), and data management plans (DMP).

Since Umeå University is a state administrative authority, the constitutional principle of public access to public documents applies. This means that your research documents become public documents that must be retained indefinitely, except in cases where a disposal decision is made. In principle, all public records can be disclosed. However, information may be classified as confidential, so disclosure of the information is prohibited. Here, you can read more about public documents and confidentiality:

Public documents

Confidentiality and professional secrecy

Your research data should always be archived

Umeå University has adopted a research data policy stating that research data should be made available for others to access. Depending on legislation, ethics, and good research practice, your data can be made available to varying degrees. However, your research data must be archived regardless of whether you make it available. Umeå University’s Retention and deletion plan provides detailed information on which research documents and data should be archived.

Research data policy

Retention and deletion plan – Conducting research

The head of department is responsible for archiving

• Each department is responsible for archiving its research documents; generally, the responsibility lies with the head of department.
• The department must also have an archive coordinator and registrar.
• The head of department is responsible for making decisions on deleting research data.
• The metadata description should always be preserved, even in cases when data is deleted after decision.

Find your archive coordinator and registrar

Each department is responsible for archiving research documents produced by its researchers. Always contact the department’s archive coordinator and registrar early in the research process to get information on how to archive your research material.

Get help from Umeå University’s archivists

You can read more about archiving research data on Aurora. There, you will also find contact information for the University's archivists.

Archiving research material (Aurora)

Storing your data long-term

You must find solutions for the long-term storage of your research data pending a decision on deletion or preservation. ITS can help you find a suitable storage solution.

IT and online services (Aurora)