Working Group on Information Handling

The RIN Working Group on Information Handling was set up in November 2009 to act as a focal point for the discussion, promotion and taking forward of issues relating to issues relating to the effective development of information-handling knowledge and training for researchers in higher education. Its terms of reference can be found below.

Importantly, it is made up of representatives from a range of organisations with an interest in this area, and also individuals with a particular expertise. The list of its members is also attached below. Although the RIN is responsible for the running of the Group, its approach its collaborative; its agenda and activities reflects the views of the coalition of partners represented on it. This makes its approach that much more credible: it can speak on behalf of different interest groups, and can help spread key messages across these communities. It can also contribute to raise awareness of information-handling skills.

The Group has addressed a number of important questions since its inception, including:

• Identification and promotion of good practice in information-handling training.
• Ensuring that information-handling competencies are properly addressed by the Researcher Development Framework, and promoting the use of the Framework for the purposes of advancing information literacy.
• Supporting the work undertaken by JISC and the Digital Curation Centre in the development of training in data management skills.
• Investigating the role of research supervisors in information literacy.

The Group meets three times a year. The minutes of the meetings held to date can be found below. The most recent meeting took place on 28 January 2011; the next one will be held in early May, at a date to be confirmed.

For information about the work of the Group, please contact stephane.goldstein@rin.ac.uk .