consuming linked data in universities

Consuming Linked Data from Universities

Fouad Zablith, Mathieu d’Aquin

Knowledge Media Institute (KMi)The Open University

Introduction

• More data is becoming available across universities. E.g.:– data.open.ac.uk– ecs Southampton– Oxford– Bristol– data.*.ac.uk

• Most share common objects e.g. courses, degrees, people, publications, places, etc.

What do we do with that?

• In search for the killer app, i.e.– The one that gives you more funding– More students– More impact

• Actually, the most common benefits of Linked Data are less direct. i.e. – Reducing the cost of development, and information Sharing– With implication on running cost of university core business

e.g. course production, student support, management• Not one killer app, but many uses across the

organisation

Location Browser

Podcast Browser

Facebook Course Profiles App

Research Collaboration

Video Annotation and Search

wayOU

Conclusion

• The examples shown are the first steps towards producing and consuming Linked Data within universities

• With current central systems, e.g. Drupal used at the OU, it will be easier to benefit from Linked Data e.g.– People’s profiles– Course RDFa annotation

Fouad Zablithf.zablith@open.ac.uk