Wits Libraries launches the Wits Open Data Vault
- Lazarus Matizirofa
This platform advances open, ethical and sustainable research through transparent data sharing.
In keeping with global and local peers to advance open scholarship and research excellence, Wits Libraries announces the launch of the Wits Open Data Vault (WODV) - a dynamic, institutional data repository designed to preserve, disseminate, and showcase Wits University’s rich and diverse open research data outputs. The platform is built on a Figshare open software used globally and also by 20 HEIs in South Africa.
The Wits Open Data Vault represents a significant step forward in the University’s commitment to transparency, collaboration, and innovation in research to advance Open, Ethical, and Sustainable Research. As global momentum builds around open science, the WODV aligns both the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics) principles - ensuring that data is not only open and usable, but also ethically managed and respectful of community rights and Indigenous data sovereignty.
Importantly, the WODV supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) by enabling data-driven research that addresses critical global challenges such as health, education, climate action, gender equality, and reduced inequalities. Researchers are encouraged to tag their datasets with SDGs-aligned metadata, enhancing discoverability and enabling evidence-based policymaking and innovation.
In tandem with the launch of the WODV, Wits Libraries has also undertaken a comprehensive review of the University’s Research Data Management (RDM) Policy. This review aims to provide clearer guidance to researchers and stakeholders on the creation of Data Management Plans (DMPs) and the responsible curation of datasets associated with scholarly publications. These efforts directly support the National Research Foundation (NRF) Open Access Mandate (2015), which requires that publicly funded research outputs -including data - be made openly accessible.
“The Wits Open Data Vault, together with our updated Wits RDM Policy, forms a robust framework for ethical, open, and impactful research. We are empowering our research community with the tools and guidance they need to meet national and global open science expectations,” said Dr Daisy Selematsela, University Librarian, in advocating for the platform.
The repository will serve as a central hub (for storing and sharing datasets generated by Wits researchers across all disciplines - from health sciences, engineering to the humanities, social sciences and law. It ensures long-term preservation and provides persistent identifiers, Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for citation and reuse, enhancing the visibility and credibility of Wits research data globally. The library has curated 10,900 datasets out of 57,000 harvested from Dimensions platform.
Additionally, the WODV is a strategic asset in strengthening the South African knowledge economy. By promoting open access to high-quality, locally generated data, the platform supports innovation, inclusive economic growth, and alignment with national development priorities. Metadata standards embedded in the repository reflect both global frameworks like the SDGs and local initiatives like the South African National Development Plan 2030 ensuring that South African research outputs are both globally visible and locally relevant.
What benefits will Wits Open Data Vault bring:
- Preservation: Ensures long-term access to valuable research data.
- Visibility and Impact: Increases the global reach and impact of Wits research.
- Compliance: Supports the NRF Open Access Mandate and funder requirements.
- Collaboration: Encourages interdisciplinary and international research partnerships.
- Ethics & Equity: Upholds FAIR and CARE principles to ensure data is shared responsibly and with respect for community rights and cultural contexts.
- Sustainability: Advances the SDGs by enabling open, inclusive, and impactful research that addresses global challenges.
- National Impact: Strengthens the South African knowledge economy through open, accessible, and strategically aligned research data.
- Policy Support: Provides researchers with clear guidance on Data management Plans and data sharing through the revised Witwatersrand University’s Research Data Management Policy.
As Wits continues to champion open scholarship, the WODV will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of research at the institution and beyond - one that is open, inclusive, ethical, and sustainable.
Join us in celebrating this milestone and be part of a growing community committed to making knowledge open, accessible, and impactful.
For more information or to deposit your data, visit: https://opendata.wits.ac.za/
This article was written by Lazarus Matizirofa, Associate Director: Research, Scholarly Communication, Digital Systems & Services, Wits Libraries.