Here’s a detailed and easy-to-understand article about the SSJ Data Archive’s CoreTrustSeal certification, incorporating related information:
Tokyo University’s SSJ Data Archive Achieves Prestigious International Recognition: CoreTrustSeal Certification Awarded
Tokyo, Japan – June 27, 2025 – The SSJ Data Archive, a vital resource for social science research at the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Social Science, has announced a significant achievement: it has been awarded the CoreTrustSeal, a globally recognized certification for data repositories. This prestigious accreditation signifies that the SSJ Data Archive meets the highest international standards for trustworthiness and reliability in preserving and providing access to digital research data.
The announcement, made today on the Current Awareness Portal, marks a crucial step forward for the SSJ Data Archive and the broader landscape of social science research in Japan and beyond.
What is the CoreTrustSeal and Why is it Important?
The CoreTrustSeal is an independent, non-governmental, international certification body that assesses data repositories based on a rigorous set of criteria. These criteria are designed to ensure that repositories are responsible, trustworthy, and sustainable, guaranteeing the long-term preservation and accessibility of the data they hold.
For researchers, having data housed in a CoreTrustSeal-certified repository provides a high level of confidence that:
- Data is preserved securely and reliably: The repository has robust technical and organizational measures in place to protect data from loss or degradation.
- Data is accessible now and in the future: The repository has plans and policies to ensure data remains available for future research, even as technologies evolve.
- Data is discoverable and usable: The repository adheres to standards that make it easier for researchers to find and understand the data.
- The repository operates transparently and ethically: The repository’s policies and procedures are clear and follow best practices in data management and stewardship.
In essence, the CoreTrustSeal acts as a seal of approval, assuring the research community that the repository is a trusted partner for data preservation and sharing.
The Significance of the SSJ Data Archive’s Achievement
The Institute of Social Science (ISS) at the University of Tokyo is a leading research institution in Japan, and its SSJ Data Archive plays a pivotal role in supporting and disseminating social science research. By achieving CoreTrustSeal certification, the SSJ Data Archive demonstrates its commitment to:
- Enhancing the trust and credibility of Japanese social science data: This international recognition elevates the standing of the data housed within the archive.
- Promoting open science and data sharing: The certification encourages greater collaboration and reuse of valuable research data, accelerating scientific discovery.
- Ensuring the long-term value of social science research: The archive’s adherence to CoreTrustSeal standards guarantees that the data collected by researchers will be preserved and accessible for future generations.
- Contributing to the global data infrastructure: The SSJ Data Archive is now recognized as a key player in the international network of trustworthy data repositories.
The process for obtaining CoreTrustSeal certification is comprehensive, requiring repositories to demonstrate compliance with a detailed set of requirements across various domains, including:
- Organizational Responsibility: Establishing a stable organizational structure and governance.
- Digital Object Management: Ensuring the integrity, authenticity, and understandability of digital objects.
- Technology and Infrastructure: Maintaining a robust and reliable technical infrastructure.
- Sustainability: Developing long-term financial and operational sustainability plans.
- Compliance and Best Practices: Adhering to legal, ethical, and community standards.
The SSJ Data Archive’s successful application signifies that it has met these stringent requirements, highlighting the dedication and expertise of its staff in data stewardship.
What Kind of Data Does the SSJ Data Archive Hold?
The SSJ Data Archive, managed by the Institute of Social Science at the University of Tokyo, is a comprehensive repository for quantitative and qualitative data generated from social science research. This includes a wide range of data types, such as:
- Survey data: Results from national and international surveys on public opinion, social attitudes, economic behavior, and more.
- Administrative data: Data collected by government agencies and other organizations, often anonymized for research purposes.
- Microdata from large-scale studies: Detailed individual-level data from significant research projects.
- Textual data: Transcripts of interviews, focus groups, and other qualitative research materials.
- Geospatial data: Data with geographical components relevant to social phenomena.
The archive serves as a crucial resource for researchers across various social science disciplines, including sociology, political science, economics, psychology, and public policy. By making this data accessible, the SSJ Data Archive facilitates secondary analysis, replication of studies, and the development of new research questions.
Looking Ahead: The Impact of CoreTrustSeal Certification
The CoreTrustSeal certification is not a static achievement but rather a testament to an ongoing commitment to excellence in data stewardship. Repositories that achieve certification are typically subject to periodic reviews to ensure continued adherence to the standards.
For the SSJ Data Archive and the University of Tokyo, this accreditation is a significant endorsement that will likely:
- Attract more researchers: The assurance of data trustworthiness will encourage a wider range of researchers to utilize the archive’s resources.
- Facilitate international collaborations: Certified repositories are more readily recognized and trusted by international research communities and funding agencies.
- Strengthen the data infrastructure for social sciences: It reinforces the importance of investing in robust data repositories for the advancement of knowledge.
- Enhance the visibility and impact of Japanese social science research: By making data more accessible and trustworthy, the impact of research conducted in Japan can be amplified globally.
The successful certification of the SSJ Data Archive by the CoreTrustSeal is a proud moment for the University of Tokyo and a valuable contribution to the global effort to ensure the responsible preservation and accessibility of research data. It underscores the growing importance of data as a fundamental asset for scientific progress in the social sciences.
東京大学社会科学研究所、SSJデータアーカイブがデータリポジトリの国際的な認証基準であるCoreTrustSeal認証を取得したと発表
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