Overview

Providing training and supporting the next generation of highly qualified personnel in data analysis and evidence-based policy-making is central to CRDCN’s vision and mission. CRDCN has developed a training plan to build on the strength of CRDCN as a key training partner to fill training gaps and complement existing training from partners such as universities and academic libraries, Statistics Canada and local Research Data Centres (RDCs), government departments, scholarly societies, and graduate studies associations, software partners and other research data ecosystem organizations.

Canadian Research Data Centre Network – Training Plan 2025–2029

Providing training and supporting the next generation of highly qualified personnel is central to CRDCN’s vision and mission. CRDCN training aims to build on our strength as a key partner to fill training gaps and complement existing training from partners such as universities and academic libraries, Statistics Canada and local Research Data Centres (RDCs), government, scholarly societies and graduate studies associations, software partners and other research data ecosystem organizations.

Areas of focus for CRDCN training 2025-2029

CRDCN’s training plan is informed by stakeholder input. Some areas of focus for training remain constant, while others are evolving. CRDCN will be developing and delivering training in five key areas. 

1. Datasets and working with data 

• research data management and the data lifecycle, data reproducibility, open science and FAIR practices 
• parsing data, merging data files, linking sources of data, working with large datasets 
• data sovereignty and working with First Nations, Inuit and Métis data  

2. Using the Research Data Centres (RDCs) 

• planning a research project in the RDCs 
• accessing data in the RDCs 
• using the vRDC (virtual RDC) 

 3. Knowledge mobilization/policy communication 

• communicating the significance of research  
• telling a story with data and data visualization 
• exploring research data careers and career pathways 

4. Campus-coordinated training offerings 

• coordinating on campus for a cohort approach to RDC orientation 
• training in collaboration with data librarians 
• facilitating graduate student presentations on campus 

5. Professional development within the data ecosystem 

• Building capacity beyond the CRDCN research community 
• training that contributes to the non-profit sector 
• offering webinars and developing resources to support data literacy  

To find out about CRDCN training, visit the events page on the CRDCN website and sign up for the Data Matter newsletter, here.  

CRDCN training collaboration

Collaborating on training enables CRDCN to provide trainees with access to expertise and insight from across the research data ecosystem and in turn, to share our expertise with a wider group of professionals, as well as the public. Collaborators to deliver CRDCN training include: 

• Statistics Canada 
• First Nations Information Governance Centre 
• Employment and Social Development Canada 
• Health Canada  
• Health Data Research Network 
• Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation 
• Statistical Analysis System (SAS) 
• Data Liberation Initiative 
• Consortium on Analytics for Data-driven Decision-making (CAnD3) 

If you are interested in collaborating with CRDCN to deliver training in the focus areas described above, contact Johanne Provençal, CRDCN’s Director of Research, Training and Knowledge Mobilization.