First RDNL User Panel: June 16th 2026
What data professionals need: insights from the RDNL user panel
What training do data professionals need? Which topics belong to a national curriculum? And what should they know themselves, or know where to find? These questions were central to the first meeting of the RDNL user panel on 16 June 2026.
Developing the platform together
Research Data Netherlands (RDNL) is a partnership between 4TU.ResearchData, DANS, Health RI and SURF. With funding from Open Science NL, RDNL is developing a national training and community platform for research data professionals in the Netherlands.
The platform will bring together a curriculum, learning paths, training and opportunities to exchange knowledge. To make sure this work connects to daily practice, RDNL has recently set up a user panel.
The panel includes data professionals from universities, universities of applied sciences, university medical centers and other research organisations across the Netherlands. They work in roles such as data steward, data librarian and research data management specialist.
They bring different experiences, work in different settings and support different research communities. This helps us see where the plans fit practice and where more work is needed.
During the first meeting, the panel discussed two areas of work in progress: the mapping of existing training and the new Train-the-Trainer workshop.
“I followed Essentials 4 Data Support and then wondered: what else can I learn? I am looking forward to the learning pathways.”
-Claudia Hernandez Esponda, Data steward, Erasmus University Rotterdam
What belongs to the curriculum?
Within the RDNL project, existing training for data professionals is being mapped to the RDNL competency framework. This shows which topics are already covered and where there may be gaps.
The user panel reviewed the first results and added an important point: a gap found during the mapping does not automatically mean that a new training needs to be developed.
For some topics, data professionals need detailed knowledge. For others, they may mainly need to recognise an issue and know when to involve a specialist. Some needs may be better addressed through mentoring, peer learning or practical guidance.
- The panel also highlighted topics that deserve more attention:
- Developing, implementing and monitoring RDM policy
- Digital sovereignty, data ownership and metrics for RDM
- Supporting researchers with metadata and interoperability
- The CARE principles
- Transversal (“soft”/”non-cognitive“) skills such as advisory skills, change management, networking, project management
- Mentoring and buddy systems
This input will help refine the mapping and inform the curriculum and learning paths developed within the RDNL project.
“I would like to contribute to the harmonisation of the minimum basic knowledge across the country, so researchers can receive similar support at different institutions.”
-Liz Guzman-Ramirez, Coordinating data steward, Eindhoven University of Technology
What helps RDM training work?
The panel also reviewed the first outline of the RDNL Train the Trainer workshop. The workshop is being developed for data professionals who give, or would like to give, training on research data management.
- Participants in the panel saw a clear need for the workhop. They also shared challenges from their own training practice:
- Reaching participants and reducing drop out
- Adapting training to different disciplines and knowledge levels
- Avoiding information overload
- Designing interactive activities
- Choosing between online and in person training
- Creating clear and reusable materials
Good training involves more than sharing information. Participants also need opportunities to practise, discuss and apply what they learn.
This input will be taken into account as the workshop is further developed and prepared for its first pilot.
“Collaboration is useful when rebuilding and further developing our training offer.”
-Daan van Versendaal, Research data management coordinator, University of Amsterdam
Continuing the conversation
The meeting also raised broader questions about professional development. How do learning paths relate to professional profiles? How can data stewards continue to grow in their roles? And how should training respond to new legislation or changing funder requirements? These questions will return in future user panel meetings.
Read more about the panel, its members, and the first meeting, on the new RDNL user panel page. Would you like to know more the how the Dutch training landscape is mapped, have a look here.
“I would like to increase collaboration, bring existing work together and share expertise.”
-Renate Mattiszik, Data librarian and data steward, Saxion University of Applied Sciences
