Sonraí has very exciting news to share! In response to a need for accredited training identified by our network community, our first microcredential in Data Stewardship is live!
Accredited by University College Cork College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences and developed by Sonraí Irish Data Stewardship Network the new microcredential is titled Introduction to Data Stewardship (DH5001) .
This Level 9 part-time course is delivered online and in person and runs for 13 weeks. The course will start on the 9th February 2026, with the closing date for applications the 25th January 2026. The cost of this course is €1000, with a limited number of bursaries available.
You should consider doing this course if you are:
- An aspiring data steward or a current data steward who is seeking to formalise or deepen their expertise.
- A researcher or part of research support staff – those who manage, curate, or document research data as part of their work.
- A librarian, an information specialist, or a data manager who is responsible for data management support or training.
- A research administrator or compliance officer with a need to understand data policies, legislation, and best practice standards.
- A technical professional such as database officer, IT staff, or a data technician who supports research data infrastructure or research workflows.
- A postgraduate student who is looking to strengthen research data management capabilities for current or future projects.
What will you learn?
This microcredential is focused on practical, professional data management and the broader open research agenda. It equips students with the knowledge and skills to plan, apply, and evaluate data stewardship practices. It introduces key concepts of data security and sovereignty helping data stewards to protect sensitive data, respect jurisdictional boundaries and uphold the rights of data subjects and communities. Topics include compliance, security, ethics, and effective management of research data across discipline and data types.
If you want to develop practical, professional-level skills in responsible, compliant, secure and effective research data management, then this course is for you!
To register:
Go to https://www.ucc.ie/en/dh5001 and click Apply Now at the bottom of the page.
As mentioned, through the support of the National Open Research Forum we are delighted to be able to offer 5 bursaries for the pilot delivery of the Introduction to Data Stewardship. Please see our bursary terms and conditions for further details: https://bit.ly/4r9tMmQ
If you have any questions, about the course or any issues with registration, please email Research Data Services at researchdata@ucc.ie.
Best wishes,
Sonraí
(Irish Data Stewardship Network)
