Research data stewards from Latvia take part in competency training in Edinburgh

In Edinburgh, Scotland, from 7 to 16 April, Latvian data stewards took part in an intensive training programme for research data stewards organised by the Digital Curation Centre (DCC)—one of the world’s leading centres of expertise in data curation, with extensive international experience in research data management, skill-building, and competency development.

Research data stewards from Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU), Riga Technical University, the University of Latvia, the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, the Central Statistical Bureau, and the Higher Education and Science Information Technology Shared Service Centre took part in this training.

Photo: Courtesy of the project

During the training, participants were able to gain an in-depth knowledge of managing research data throughout the full research lifecycle, ensuring secure, high-quality data management that complies with regulations, requirements, and the FAIR principles. The training covered topics such as:

• core principles of Open Science and principles of open research data;
• ethical aspects of research data management; data protection and handling of sensitive data;
• development of research data management and use DMPonline tool;
• storing, sharing and licencing of research data;
• selection of research data repositories;
• establishment and development of research data management services in research organisations, etc.

Participants were also engaged in practical assignments, analysis of practices from different institutions, and solving real-world problem cases commonly faced by data stewards on daily basis. During the training the experts from DCC generously shared their over 20 years' worth of expertise and practical experience. 

In addition to the valuable knowledge gained during the training, the data stewardship network was fundamentally strengthened thereby ensuring effective collaboration and research data management initiative coordination in Latvia. This experience is a significant step toward implementing unified research data management in Latvia, aligned with global best practices while also supporting institutions in adapting to international requirements.

The training is part of a project aimed at improving research data management skills in Latvian higher education and research institutions and enhancing research data management practices. Within this project, the Latvian National Research Data Repository (DataverseLV) is being developed in alignment with FAIR principles and is planned for integration into the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). Additionally, a collaborative network of Latvian research data management professionals (data stewards) has been established to provide the necessary training and knowledge for implementing best practices in Latvia.

¹ FAIR principi nodrošina, ka pētniecības dati ir atrodami, pieejami, sadarbspējīgi un atkārtoti izmantojami.

The project “Support for the implementation of open science in practice, as well as created solutions for science data sharing and participation in the EU open science cloud” (Nr. 2.1.3.1.i.0/2/23/I/CFLA/002) with total project funding is EUR 3,575,279.40 is co-funded by the European Union Recovery Fund and the Latvian state budget.