Developing Partnerships for Academic Data Science Consulting and Collaboration Units

Music City Center 

Data science consulting and collaboration units (DSUs) are core infrastructure for research at universities. Partnerships are needed for a thriving DSU as an active part of the larger university network. This presentation will provide guidance with examples, summarized as six rules for identifying, developing and managing successful partnerships for DSUs: (1) align with institutional strategic plans, (2) cultivate partnerships that fit your mission, (3) ensure sustainability and prepare for growth, (4) define clear expectations in a partnership agreement, (5) communicate and (6) expect the unexpected. While these rules are not exhaustive, they are derived from experiences in a diverse set of DSUs, and can be adapted to different organizational models for DSUs.

Data Science Consulting

Partnerships