As a first step toward improving the standardization and discoverability of university research and knowledge, the session introduced the foundations of the FAIR data principles and the practical platforms that can support FAIR-aligned practices.

“Being open data is easy; being FAIR is not,” said resource person Dr. Mark Edwin A. Tupas, Director IV of the Space Information Infrastructure Bureau, Philippine Space Agency, and an Associate Professor at the Department of Geodetic Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman.

According to Dr. Tupas, FAIR data principles require conscious effort and buy-in from researchers, librarians, data managers, and decision-makers, all with the ultimate goal of promoting transparency, accessibility, reproducibility, and purposefulness of research.

In her message, Assistant Vice President for Data Governance and University Librarian Elvira B. Lapuz emphasized the libraries’ role in connecting people to knowledge, especially in digital spaces.

“As we work toward a more connected and accessible research ecosystem across the UP System, we are reminded that good systems and services come from listening to the people who use them: our students, faculty, researchers, and staff,” AVP Lapuz said.

The webinar is the first of a continuing series of capacity-building sessions toward a growing community of practice among librarians on responsible, standardized, and future-ready research data management in the University.

This initiative directly supports the strategic pillars of the OVPDx, specifically its drive toward Open Data and Data Analytics for Decision Support. By equipping academic and technical personnel with FAIR data standards, UP reinforces data-driven governance and ensures that university research remains accessible, reliable, and actionable for institutional policymaking and public good.