Enhancing research visibility and SDG alignment through metadata and AI: a case study from the University of Pretoria

Abstract

Academic libraries are uniquely positioned to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by utilising their expertise in information management. This presentation outlines an innovative project led by metadata specialists at the University of Pretoria, aimed at linking Faculty research outputs and activities to the SDGs through enriched metadata in the University’s institutional repository, UPSpace. Using the Faculty of Veterinary Science as a pilot, the team developed a structured workflow to retrospectively tag research items with SDG-related metadata and created a subject guide to enhance their discoverability. Recently, the project has evolved to incorporate artificial intelligence tools that assist in identifying relevant keywords and aligning them with the SDGs, significantly improving both efficiency and accuracy. This initiative not only supports institutional reporting and strategic alignment but also fosters awareness and engagement with the SDGs across various disciplines. The presentation will provide insights into the methodology, challenges faced, and future directions.