Develop your Research Software Support skills: new training this autumn

The Netherlands eScience Center is offering a new round of its Research Software Support Training. This training is interesting for research data professionals who want to develop their knowledge of research software management and learn how to support researchers in managing, sharing and citing research software.

Research software is an increasingly important part of research and requires appropriate management throughout its lifecycle. The training is tailored to support staff who are already familiar with Research Data Management (RDM) and the FAIR principles and want to extend their knowledge and advisory skills to research software and code. 

Research software and the national curriculum for data professionals 

RDNL is developing a national training and community platform for research data professionals, bringing together training and expertise from RDNL and other training providers in the Netherlands. 

The Research Software Support Training of eScience Center aligns well with the national curriculum for data professionals. It was one of the 47 trainings recently mapped in the current training landscape by RDNL. The analysis showed that this training covers a large part of the competencies required in research software management, one of the seven competency areas identified in the RDNL Competency Framework. Read more about the national curriculum and the mapping of the training landscape.

Practical details

The training will take place online on five Tuesdays between 15 September and 13 October 2026:

• September 15th (9:00 – 13:00)
• September 22nd (9:00 – 13:00)
• September 29th (9:00 – 13:00)
• October 6th (9:00 – 13:00)
• October 13th (9:00 – 13:00)

The training covers: 

• how research software is developed and what support staff need to know about it;
• Software Management Plans (SMPs), their benefits and how to support researchers in completing them;
• initiatives related to research software in the academic landscape;
• software licenses and how to advise researchers in choosing an appropriate license;
• publication and citation of research software; 
• good software development practices and how to advise researchers on these practices.

The training is delivered in English. The participation fee for participants affiliated with Dutch research institutions is €50. 

More information about the training and a link to register on the Netherlands eScience Center website.