The Electronic Theses Project: A view from the consortium led by The Robert Gordon University

Abstract

"Electronic Theses" is a JISC funded FAIR (Focus on Access to Institutional Resources) project spanning 2 years from July 2002 until July 2004. The project, led by RGU, consists of members from the following institutions: * The Robert Gordon University * The University of Aberdeen * Cranfield University * The University of London Library * The British Library. The main aim of the project is to evaluate a wide range of existing practice and methods of e-theses production, management and use against a set of criteria in order to produce recommended models for use within the UK information environment. The project builds particularly on recent work undertaken by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD). It is also considering the potential developments and opportunities offered by the production of 'born digital' theses, and ways of creating an electronic theses resource base at national level. This paper will highlight the work undertaken by the project and outline many of the findings and key issues that have surfaced along the way. * Levels of interest within the UK * Learning from others; success and established systems transferable to the UK * Which systems are best to suited to specific demands * Potential problems and obstacles to progression * Opportunities * Unified progression? Distributed, institutional and centralised systems.