model of chemical compound made of wool and knitting needles

Future Focus

 

Change is constant but it's been a particular focus for us this year. We've spent time exploring what our community needs now, as it begins to recover from the disruptions of the last few years, and envisioning what we hope to achieve going forward. Fittingly, as we move into the Edinburgh Futures Institute, it's been a time for considering the future of CDCS and the future of digital research methods support. With the help of many colleagues, we've developed a new framework for articulating our work and the contributions we are making, and we've set ourselves some ambitious new goals.

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diagram showing how CDCS relates to local communities

Led by our community

We pride ourselves on responding flexibly to meet the needs of our community. Over the last year, we've consulted extensively with stakeholders, research clusters, teams and colleagues across the University, listening to their ideas and getting feedback on our plans. Going forward, our Advisory Board -composed of academics from across CAHSS Schools as well as colleagues from Informatics, Information Services and EFI- will steer the Centre and ensure that we set a direction that supports our whole community's aims and ambitions.

Find out more about CDCS's structure

We've developed a new way of articulating what we do and why we do it: our theory of change sets out how our activities produce positive change, and gives us a framework for articulating and evaluating our impact. 

Read more about our Theory of Change

Our Strategic Objectives 2023 - 2026

Effective Institutional Support

1. Innovate in digital skills development activity

We will develop an array of flexible, effective pedagogic models and a supporting framework that ensures consistency and quality.

Effective Institutional Support

2. Establish a development and prototyping service

We will offer new services that help researchers incubate data-led research projects.

Effective Institutional Support

3. Develop EFI Research Technology Support

Collaborating with ECA and ISG, we will develop new technical research support services within EFI.

Effective Insitutional Support

4. Support the development of related methods-led research initiatives

We will collaborate to support the sustainable development of relevant methods-led research initiatives within CAHSS and EFI, including the Social Data Science Hub and Humanities Informatics.

Communities of Practice

5. Support the growth of communities of practice

We will build and facilitate new communities of practice around digital methods and datasets within and beyond the University.

Communities of Practice

6. Develop our affiliation schemes

Review affiliate and associate schemes and align with EFI schemes.

Communities of Practice

7. Strengthen relationships with Schools across CAHSS

We will build deeper partnerships to facilitate interest in and growth in capacity for data-led methods.

Communities of Practice

8. Build our networks

Consolidate and grow relationships with partners from across the UK HE skills landscape.

Leading Change

9. Developing models for the real world

We will develop sustainable and challenge-led digital upskilling delivery models.

Leading Change

10. Share our experience

Share our frameworks for providing engaging digital and data upskilling via publications, collaborative projects, conference presentations and events.

Leading Change

11. Building up RSE capacity

Develop innovative Research Software Engineering provision model, and engage with national RSE issues and communities.

Leading Change

12. Contribute nationally

We will contribute to the development of a national Digital Research Infrastructure, though engagement with UKRI and strategic projects.

EFI Building

Our new home

This year we have been working to align ourselves more closely with other teams and projects within the Edinburgh Futures Institute, and articulate our contribution to the Institute's work. Now, as we all prepare to move into the beautifully redeveloped former hospital on Lauriston Place, it seems like the right moment to embrace the EFI ethos of challenge, create, change, and our strategic objectives have been written to reflect this.

Find out more about EFI