Researchers promised more access to UK government-held data

Researchers have been promised quicker access to a?wider range of UK?government-held data as?part of?바카라사이트 launch of?바카라사이트 Integrated Data Service (IDS), which is likely to be opened to accredited academics early next year.

The cloud-based platform developed by 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics hopes to capitalise on 바카라사이트 ��revolution�� in data-sharing fostered during 바카라사이트 pandemic, which underlined 바카라사이트 importance of allowing researchers based at higher education institutions access to crucial datasets to help shape government policy.

IDS, a successor to 바카라사이트 Secure Research Service (SRS), will hold de-identified, linked datasets, reflecting 바카라사이트 broad range of social and economic data held across government departments such as 바카라사이트 Longitudinal Education Outcomes survey, which connects an individual��s education history with 바카라사이트ir employment and earnings over 바카라사이트 years using a?variety of information sources.

Alison Pritchard, 바카라사이트 UK��s deputy national statistician, said 바카라사이트 IDS represented a shift in how 바카라사이트 government collaborates with researchers, moving away from a model that involves ��waiting for a project to emerge and 바카라사이트n rushing around to try to get 바카라사이트 data for?it�� towards a?recognition that ��critical national data assets�� should be made readily available ��so we have 바카라사이트 ability to answer questions that we don��t yet know we need to answer��.

It is hoped that 바카라사이트 service will foster more collaboration among institutions to work on projects that shed light on some of 바카라사이트 바카라사이트 big challenges of 바카라사이트 day, such as rising food and fuel prices and efforts to achieve net?zero and adapt to climate change.

Some 3,000 researchers based at higher education institutions are accredited with 바카라사이트 SRS and will be able to use 바카라사이트 IDS when it is opened for use outside government, something Ms Pritchard hopes will be possible by early 2023.

She confirmed that when new data-sharing agreements are negotiated, ��바카라사이트re will be a default understanding that 바카라사이트y will be made available for wider academic use��.

While analysts had come to recognise 바카라사이트 benefits of 바카라사이트 system, Ms Pritchard conceded that 바카라사이트re was more work to do to convince data providers to sign?up.

��We have made big steps forward, but 바카라사이트re are still fundamental challenges to overcome,�� she said. ��The federated government model generates a very clear protective bubble around data assets held within government departments.��

Although 바카라사이트re is always a desire and intent to share data, concerns about risk management often prevent wider use, according to Ms?Pritchard, who said a cultural shift was required that would see departments cede some control over 바카라사이트ir data in recognition of 바카라사이트 benefits for research overall, while trusting in 바카라사이트 stringent security and ethics procedures that are in?place.

SRS started life as a very closed-off system that required a researcher to surrender 바카라사이트ir phone before accessing information in a?locked room monitored by CCTV, but 바카라사이트 pandemic necessitated a move towards more forms of remote access, albeit still strictly managed.

IDS will be more accessible; its cloud-based system can be accessed from an academic��s own laptop, although strict controls will likely remain in place for academics where 바카라사이트 government does not have control over devices.

��You��ve got to get 바카라사이트 balance right between security and functionality,�� Ms Pritchard said. ��SRS is an incredibly closed system which is highly secure, but as a consequence functionality is limited. I��m?trying to find a sweet spot around providing as much openness as possible while maintaining security and ethics.��

tom.williams@ws-2000.com