This goal is being reached through a series of projects. One of those projects is EOSC Future, which aims at the development of an open science platform. This EOSC Platform will connect (inter)national repositories and other research data infrastructures with each other.
As a member of OpenAIRE, DANS participates in the EOSC Future project. We are especially involved in the development of an extensive training package to support EOSC stakeholders. In order to use data and services it is essential that researchers, providers, intermediaries, but also ‘trainers’ (like data stewards) are trained in how to do this. How do you find and access data in EOSC? How do you upload (‘onboard’) your services to EOSC? And how do you explain this complex-sounding federated infrastructure in terms that can be understood by everyone? These are topics covered by the training provided by EOSC Future.
In four interactive training sessions, 30-50 people from throughout Europe were trained in how to train others on EOSC. DANS trainers in the Netherlands collaborated with trainers based in the UK, Latvia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Austria. The training focused on four topics, in four interactive 2-hour online sessions. A general introduction ‘Preparing to train on EOSC’ made sure the trainers not only know the main elements of EOSC and are confident in teaching these to others, but also know their networks in order to gain more knowledge. Using the EOSC Portal was another topic.This portal, in development, is the place where EOSC services, datasets, and more can be accessed. For trainers to be able to train others on this, it is of course first necessary they know themselves how it works. Both legal and ethical issues related to EOSC was one of the sessions. Issues like safe and responsible use (for example protecting sensitive data) and equitable access were lively discussed. Pedagogical aspects were the focus of the final session: how do you, practically, go about producing high-quality training about EOSC, and where can you find EOSC resources to reuse? The FAIR principles were also addressed here: how to make your training materials Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable?
The slides and recordings are available online. Thank you to all who attended the training. If you would like to receive information about future training and/or webinars on EOSC, please register for the EOSC Portal mailing list or keep an eye at the EOSC Future events page. If you have any feedback on the training, do let us know and contact Kim Ferguson.
