Data Autonomy Working Definition

Data Autonomy for the UG Community

A team of UG experts has come together to build upon the definitions established during the March event, aiming to create a comprehensive definition that encompasses the diverse groups within the UG community. After extensive deliberation, we have formulated the following working definition, serving as a foundation for further development of the concept of Data Autonomy at the University of Groningen.

Working definition Data Autonomy

Data autonomy is the effective capacity of the academic community of the University of Groningen to make meaningful decisions about access to data, data flows, the uses of data and the design of the informational environment, to the degree necessary to freely and independently pursue the university's mission, to promote knowledge dissemination and to protect the rights of its students and employees. This capacity is required to protect academic freedom and the independence of the university.

Context of the working definition of Data Autonomy

This working definition fully acknowledges the different and diverse contexts of the activities at the UG. Concepts such as ‘meaningful decisions’ have to be interpreted and applied differently, depending on the concrete circumstances. In particular, we suggest to consider the UG through different lenses which show the UG as an educational institution, a research and innovation body, and actor in the entrepreneurial landscape. Therefore, the working definition should be interpreted and applied with a view to the sensitivity of the data used.

Prospect

The working definition requires further consideration and input from the stakeholder community. Themes that guide this discussion about the use of data at the UG include: privacy, ownership, transparency, creation, collection, accessibility, shareability, storage, protection, security, and autonomy related to the use of data and digital services.

Outcome event Let's Talk Data Autonomy

As an outcome of the event that took place in March 2023, the groups representing the different roles within the University, provided the below data autonomy definitions, which will serve as a base for a new definition representing the University of Groningen.

Big Data Specialists

Data Autonomy definition according to Big Data specialists acknowledges:

Right to access gives duty to care.Clear rules on personal data and control (i.e., control over how data is used (only for necessary purposes), deleted, etc.)
Knowledge on location where data is (physically) stored and on ownership and access to data.
Providing a meaningful choice.Information and consent procedures with relevant and understandable information for making an informed choice.
Offering alternatives to choose from and enables them as an institution.
Ensuring enforcement of conditions.
Leaving space for discussion and change of choice (to some extent).

ICT & Security Specialists

Data autonomy is the practice of ensuring that the data used in our organization is protected and secure, accessible and shareable, and applied effectively. Making sure that each user, i.e. staff and students, maintains control over their respective data and over the application of that data. This is one of the most important duties of the UG.

Policy makers, Law and Privacy Specialists

Policy makers, Law and Privacy specialists

Having significant management and control over our own (personal) data as person, group and organization.

Researchers

The ability to generate and analytically utilise data in ways that are productive for producing wisdom and knowledge while at the same complying with various and at times competing demands for privacy and openness stemming from our research subjects all the way up to our funders and the wider publics impacted by our research (the ability to not forsake one vow for another).

Students

Educational goals are central to data autonomy.
We share data because it will help us reach a certain educational goal: it is a transaction where data sharing is instrumental.
We give up some of our personal information to get something in return that we have argued is worthwhile.
What we deem worthwhile should be the outcome of free argumentation only - it cannot be subject to manifestations of power/oppressive forces/manipulation.
It is only when we can freely discuss and determine the aims and conditions of this transaction that we can speak of data autonomy.

Support & Management Staff

Data autonomy is having sufficient insight and control over what data is collected, processed, stored, and shared while having a clear vision, standardized procedures, and support of the board to achieve the desired level of data autonomy.

Teachers

Students' and teachers' data are autonomous / independent of vendors/BigTech companies through using open source software, avoiding vendor lock in.
Universities should be independent of companies and need to work together with other universities in the Netherlands to make it possible (larger initiatives and support).

Picture of the outcome of the Let's talk Data Autonomy Event

Last modified:

18 March 2024 2.18 p.m.

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