Towards a National Platform for Research Data Professionals: Training and Community Building for Open Science

Abstract

Poster presented at the national Open Science Festival 2025, hosted by the University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)in the Netherlands on 24 October 2025. The National Training and Community Platform for Research Data Professionals is a key initiative to professionalise data stewards and related data roles in the Netherlands. This four-year project, funded by Open Science NL and led by the Research Data Netherlands (RDNL) consortium (DANS, SURF, 4TU.ResearchData, Health-RI), addresses the growing demand for skilled data professionals in the Dutch research landscape. Main outcomes of the project are a training and community engagement programme, an online space and a long-term plan for the governance and sustainability of the platform. This poster highlights the activities under the training work package. Planned Training Activities The project will establish a national curriculum for data professionals, aligned with Dutch job profiles and international standards. This curriculum defines core competencies and learning objectives and will guide the development of learning paths, tailored to the diversity of data stewardship roles and backgrounds. Existing training offerings, such as Essentials 4 Data Support and GDPR 4 Data Support, will be revised, and new courses will be developed using structured methods like ABC Learning Design. At least 200 professionals will be trained during the project via in-person and self-paced formats. Training will be available in Dutch and English, and participants will receive digital badges as recognition of learning achievements. To ensure scalability and sustainability, a Train-the-Trainer programme will be launched, expanding the network of qualified trainers across institutions. Planned Community Activities The platform will foster an active community of data professionals through targeted engagement. It will identify and connect with relevant national and international communities, including the Data Stewards Interest Group (DSIG), the National Coordination Point RDM (LCRDM) and Open Science Communities. Community profiles will be published on the platform to improve visibility and collaboration. Regular community events will support co-creation of training content, curriculum refinement, and peer exchange. These efforts will ensure that the platform continues to reflect the expertise and priorities of its users. Together, the training and community components will create a strong, sustainable infrastructure for data stewardship and Open Science in the Netherlands. More information on the project and RDNL activities: https://researchdata.nl/en/home/