University of Tampere receives funding for training data stewards
Tampere University has received a three-year special funding for the promotion of science from the Ministry of Education and Culture for the project "Planning and implementation of training professionalizing data management specialists". The purpose of the project is to create training for the profession of data management experts/data stewards and to secure the availability of data management experts in different sectors.
Working as a data management expert requires, among other things, the ability to perceive the data management needs of different research or projects and develop sustainable and responsible practices for their implementation. Data protection and data security require an in-depth understanding not only of current regulations but also of best practices in the field. Data management skills are also an essential part of research skills, knowledge-based decision-making and continuous learning in research organisations.
By arranging training for data management experts, we accelerate the development of data management practices and strengthen the quality and impact of research data infrastructure activities. The aim of the project is to design a study program to train experts in data management and open science who are proficient in the practices required by Finnish legislation. The development of training responds to the growing need to ensure that those working in the field of data management have a strong theoretical foundation and practical skills. This promotes not only the career development of individual professionals, but also Finland's position as a leading country in data management. The project also aims to promote the inclusion of data management skills as part of doctoral degree programs.
Planning content in national and international cooperation
The funding period is three years, for 2024-2026, including the planning phase and implementation of the training. Tampere University is responsible for the project in cooperation with the library. However, the planning of the contents of the education now being developed requires extensive national, international, and cross-border cooperation. There will be close cooperation with, for example, CSC's IT Center for Science, Finnish Social Science Data Archive, the Graduate School and the Department of Information Studies.
With regard to international cooperation, we lay our eyes to international cooperation bodies formed by experts from different fields, aimed at the development of data management services and infrastructures, such as the Research Data Alliance (RDA) and EOSC. In addition to these, we will have an active dialogue with the coordinators of the Data Steward Certificate course organized by the University of Vienna.
The goal of extensive co-creation is also indicated by the fact that even before the actual funding, training was planned in the Professionalisation of RDM experts working group, which operated under the coordination of the national Open Science and Research (AVOTT) and employed a total of 42 data management experts from 19 organisations.
The scope of the training will be 15 ECTSs, and the target group will include doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers as well as people who already work in different organisations in data management tasks under different titles.
More information about the project:
Teemu Rauhala, Key Account Manager, Continuous learning services
Päivi Kanerva, Information Specialist, Tampere University Library
Susanna Nykyri, Leading expert, Tampere University Library
Project page: Data Management Training Development Project | Tampere universities (tuni.fi)
