Training for research data management: comparative European approaches

1. Introduction and key findings

1.1. In today’s changing research environment, there is a need for researchers at all stages in their careers, along with research support staff, to nurture their skills and
knowhow in the management of research data. Promoting the openness and re-use of research data is one of the principal aims of the Knowledge Exchange (KE) partnership. At the end of 2015, KE initiated a project to compare approaches in research data management (RDM) training within the partnership’s five member countries. The project was structured around two strands of activity:
– A survey to collect information on current practice around RDM training, in order to provide an overview of the RDM training landscape
– A workshop to share successful approaches to RDM training and capacity building provided within institutions and by infrastructure; the workshop took place in London on 9-10 February 2016

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1.4. This report describes the outputs of the project. It is in two parts: section 2 provides an analysis of the survey (details about the data underpinning the survey can be found at paragraph 2.2), and section 3 is a report from the workshop itself. The document therefore provides an evidence base and informed suggestions to help improve RDM training practices KE partner countries and beyond.

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Key findings and conclusions

1.5.The survey results point to areas where particular factors dominate the responses:
– Training materials are very largely geared for universities, faculties and departments
– PhD students are recipients of almost all the training, although not exclusively so
– A preponderant amount of the training is not focused on any particular type of data
– Virtually all phases of the research data lifecycle are well covered by the training endeavour

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