Enhancing Competencies in Research Data Management and Open Science in Social Sciences: A Two-Edition Course for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Researchers at Università della Svizzera italiana

The shifting research environment, driven by funder mandates and Open Science (OS) policies, necessitates development of advanced Research Data Management (RDM) skills among early-career researchers. Current training at Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), while evolving, requires a structured, advanced, and field-specific offering to bridge the gap between policy and practice.

The objective of the proposed project is to to embed advanced RDM and OS competencies at USI by offering two editions of a pre-tested, 5-day intensive course tailored for doctoral and postdoctoral social science researchers.

The approach of the training offering is hands-on and project-based, using the Data Management Plan (DMP) as a central, dynamic tool applied directly to participants’ ongoing research. Key content covers FAIR principles, data curation, data ethics and privacy, reprudicibility and data sharing, data storage and data security, leveraging expertise from USI, FORS (Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Scienses), and University of Lausanne.

This project will directly address USI’s 2025-2028 strategic planning by enhancing institutional RDM/OS competence, in particular among social sciences researchers, establishing a replicable, high-standard model for researcher development, and positioning USI as an active player in the national RDM and OS landscape.