At Westminster work has begun to better capture and share non-traditional research outputs.
You can record details of non-text based output types in the Virtual Research Environment (VRE) as well as creating collections of work into wider portfolios of research.
Non-text based output types
If you are a member of academic staff or doctoral researcher, in order to submit entries, you should add details to your researcher profile in the Virtual Research Environment (VRE). As well as more traditional publications you can choose from artefact, composition, design, digital or visual media, exhibition or performance. The fields to complete have been modified to better record these distinctive types.
On logging in to the VRE using your usual University credentials, select ‘My Research Outputs’, and then the ‘Add output’ button on the right hand side. Choose ‘non-text based output’, then choose the appropriate output type. Complete the form with as much detail as possible, then select ‘save’ and ‘submit’. Leave any fields you are unsure about blank, the repository team will check details of the output before making it publicly viewable on WestminsterResearch. If you have any documents you wish to attach you can do this, adding any licence that applies, or setting it as closed if you do not wish to openly share it.
Portfolios
You can create a portfolio in the VRE to display publicly in the University’s institutional repository WestminsterResearch. Initially these were designed to allow practice-based researchers in any field to better showcase the outcomes of their research. But the option to use them to collate groups of any type of research output is available.
REF2021 portfolios
We have begun by focusing on making the content of the REF2021 portfolios submitting to Unit 32: Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory openly available. As there are potentially many intellectual property, commercial and confidentiality issues relating to this type of material, we will be discussing which elements can be made open with the researcher who created the work, before going live. If you submitted a portfolio to REF2021, we will be in touch, but should you wish that your portfolio is made open sooner, please contact us directly (email [email protected]), and we can arrange a time to finalise your portfolio for open release.
This new format allows practice-based arts research portfolios to have a clear and well-polished public presence. The portfolio records showcase not only the metadata and items within the portfolio, but also the research process undertaken leading to its creation.
Further uses
You can use the portfolios functionality to draw together several individual outputs into one large ‘container’, allowing you to bring together several smaller pieces into an overarching collection. This can be used in any area of research, and you may wish to enter minimal additional information, i.e. only including links to the outputs in WestminsterResearch, giving it a title, and a description to help people understand what is contained. Or you may wish to include accompanying text in the form of Key Facts, Supplementary Information, or even the research process. If you think this may useful to you, and would like to know more, please email [email protected].
We are able to ‘mint’ DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) for portfolios, allowing your research to have a permanent link that is citable and discoverable.
Contact
If you require further help, or information, please email [email protected].