Data management is a shared responsibility, distributed among clearly defined roles to ensure accountability, quality, and protection.
| Role | Simplified Definition | Key Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Data Owner | The organizational unit administratively responsible for datasets related to its area of responsibility. | Define the purpose; approve data quality and classification rules; determine access permissions; and approve data sharing and retention. |
| Data Steward | The specialist responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of data on behalf of its owner. | Document definitions and sources; monitor data quality; apply data classification; and coordinate data access and sharing requests. |
| Data User | Any person authorized to use data to perform a specific task. | Use data only for the authorized purpose; protect it; avoid copying or sharing it without approval; and report data incidents. |
University Example
The Deanship of Admission and Registration may serve as the functional owner of students’ academic data, in accordance with the approved organizational structure and delegated authorities. The Data Steward oversees its quality and documentation, while authorized employees use it to perform specific tasks.
Important Concept
Data ownership does not mean that the data personally belongs to an employee or department. Data created or collected by the University in the course of its operations is an institutional asset managed in accordance with approved responsibilities and policies.