| Code | DH5001 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 13 weeks |
| Teaching Mode | Part-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info. |
| NFQ Level | Level 9 |
| Fees | €1,000 See Fees and Costs for full details. |
| Closing Date | 25th January 2026 |
| Venue | Hybrid delivery - online and in person. |
| Credits | 5 |
| Start Date | 9th February 2026 |
Outline
In this 5 credits, level 9 micro-credential, develop your skills in data stewardship with a module designed to build your confidence, technical skills, and strategic understanding of research data management. You’ll gain a comprehensive view of the research data lifecycle and learn the principles, standards, and practices needed to manage data responsibly, efficiently, and in alignment with organisational and regulatory requirements.
What you'll learn
Focusing on practical, professional data management and the broader open research agenda, this module equips you with the knowledge and skills to plan, apply, and evaluate data stewardship practices. It will also introduce key concepts of data security and sovereignty helping you as data stewards to protect sensitive data, respect jurisdictional boundaries and uphold the rights of data subjects and communities. You’ll learn how to ensure compliant, secure, ethical, and effective management of research data across discipline and data types.
This module ideal for anyone who wants to develop practical, professional-level skills in responsible, compliant, secure and effective research data management.
Target audience
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Aspiring or current data stewards seeking to formalise or deepen their expertise.
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Researchers and research support staff who manage, curate, or document data as part of their work.
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Librarians, information specialists, and data managers responsible for data management support or training
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Research administrators and compliance officers with a need to understand data policies, legislation, and best-practice standards.
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Technical professionals such as database officers, IT staff, or data technicians who support research data infrastructure or research workflows.
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Postgraduate students looking to strengthen their research data management capabilities for current or future projects.
Additional Teaching Mode Information
Teaching Methods:
- 10 x 1.5 hours Lectures - online
- 5 x 1 hours Webinars - online
- 1 x 4 hours Workshops - in person
Learning Methods:
- 6 hours Online Asynchronous Activities
- 30 hours Directed Learning
- 65 hours Independent Enquiry
Practicalities
Who teaches this course?
- Dr. Orla Murphy - School of English
- Dr. Aoife Coffey - Library
- Dr. Darren Dahly - School of Medicine
- Dr. Brendan Palmer - College of Medicine and Health
- Dr. Darius Whelan - School of Law
Continuous Assessment Details:
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Assignment - Completion of version 1 of a data management plan - 2000 words
-
Assignment - Final version of research data management plan - 2000 words
- E-tivities - 6 self-assessment exercises online
Why Choose
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
| 1 | Analyse the role of data steward and the research data lifecycle and the principles and practices of data management. |
| 2 | Design and generate data management plans that comply with relevant policies, legislation, and codes of conduct. |
| 3 | Design, implement, and assess documentation and metadata standards to ensure effective data stewardship, accessibility, and compliance with best practices. |
| 4 | Evaluate and apply data quality standards and reproducibility principles to ensure accuracy, integrity, and reliability in data management. |
| 5 | Apply and assess the FAIR and Open Data Principles across various contexts and data types. |
| 6 | Evaluate and compare data repositories for use across data types and research needs. |
Requirements
Applicants must have a Level 8 honours degree or equivalent professional experience, along with strong motivational statement
Fees and Costs
€1,000
How To Apply
Please select the following options during your online application (once you have created your profile)
Start a new Micro-credentials application by selecting as below
In the application level tab select the options below and then select the programme/module you'd like to apply for
Once your application is submitted you will be prompted to upload the following documents:
- Proof of ID
- Transcript(s)
- Motivation statement - named Additional Information Request on the application portal