A Practical Guide to Research Data Management and FAIR Data

This presentation examines FAIR data principles and their application in research data management, with specific reference to the South African research context. It covers the research data lifecycle, the value of good data practice, and the components of a Data Management Plan. Each of the four FAIR principles, Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable, is unpacked in detail, including metadata standards, persistent identifiers, licensing, and provenance. The presentation also explores data repositories, implementation strategies, challenges faced by South African researchers, and how FAIRness is measured using the FAIR Data Maturity Model. South African policy frameworks, including the NRF Open Access Policy and the DSI National Open Science Policy, are discussed throughout.