Stephanie Werner (Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences): stephanie.werner@h-da.de ORCID: 0000-0002-0468-8856 Arnela Balic (Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences): arnela.balic@fit.fra-uas.de ORCID: 0000-0002-7049-5737 1.5 hours per module 6 modules published reusable materials individual adjustments 20-80 attendees per module about 400 registrations The HeFDI universities and universities of applied sciences What is HeFDI? Various different infrastructures and services are needed to support researchers in managing their digital research data. Led by the Philipps-University of Marburg, eleven Hessian universities and universities of applied sciences collaborate to establish common research data services fit for the needs at hand. HeFDI offers, amongst many other products, training courses targeted towards PhD students at Hessian universities and universities of applied sciences. Decentralized and collaborative: Data School RDM training HeFDI Data School HeFDI Publications HeFDI Website HeFDI Data School in the future Future plans for the HeFDI Data School include the possibility of granting credit points for participation as well as improving workflows and planning processes. Up-to-date-content regarding RDM is continuously fed into the materials and the quality of those materials is improving based on growing expertise as well as feedback of the attendees. English modules and materials are currently being discussed as well. Advantages The idea of the Data School comes with many advantages such as opportunities for individual adjustment of focus for each institution. On top of that, the whole HeFDI network works together to evolve its contents, enabling especially smaller institutions to develop and take advantage of this training concept while significantly conserving staff efforts. The attendance of the HeFDI Data School is possible from anywhere with a stable internet connection offering maximum flexibility to speakers and attendees alike, allowing for increased attendance rates. Attendees can also request a certificate of participation after completing the courses. All in all, the HeFDI Data School is a popular training offer with consistently high registration numbers, also attracting registrations from outside the HeFDI community. Formation of the HeFDI Data School The HeFDI Data School started as a decentralized online offer in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mostly digital environments during the time of the pandemic led to an accelerated productivity in the planning process. A working group on this topic was established that still continues its activities. Initially it was carried out by volunteers of universities of applied sciences in the HeFDI network to reduce individual workloads when educating about Research Data Management on a local scale alone. Since it has grown and shifted with every year. At this point, the fourth edition of the HeFDI Data School is being held and participants of the symposium are encouraged to register. All about the HeFDI Data School Contents The Data School consists of several modules imparting basic knowledge regarding Research Data Management such as data management plans or FAIR principles. The contents of the Data School are continuously being evaluated, developed and extended to fit the needs of the attendees as well as reflecting current developments in the RDM community. The basic Data School curriculum typically consists of six modules: • Introduction to Research Data Management • Data Management Plans (DMPs) • Data Organization and Documentation • Archiving and Publication of Research Data • Legal Aspects (Copyright and Rights of Use) • Legal Aspects (Data Protection) 16th October 30th October 13th November 27th November 11th December 15th January Data School III attendance per status group PhD students professors others students administrative staff academic staff Modules that have been taught previously as additional courses were for example: • Open Science