Vanessa Higgins shares about an exciting new project that seeks to develop computational skills in social science data services. She explains how the project will work and how it will benefit data service staff around the world.
New Tech, New Challenges
Digital research infrastructures are the unsung heroes of today’s research landscape. They bring researchers, policymakers, and innovators together, giving them access to powerful computers, vast amounts of data, cutting-edge tools, and the skills they need to tackle ambitious, creative projects.
Technology is constantly evolving, and it’s completely changing how researchers interact with data. Think smart data, web scraping, and AI—they’ve already transformed how researchers access, manage, and analyse data.
Social sciences are no exception. These new tools and methods often require more computational power and skills than most social science data professionals are used to. As the data landscape continues to evolve, the demand for these skills is only going to grow.
Here’s the tricky part: many social science data service professionals, even those with years of experience, were trained to use traditional methods or data. These are great, but they don’t always prepare staff for the computational challenges of today.
Stepping Up to the Challenge
Recognizing this gap, Vanessa Higgins, Jools Kasmire, Jen Buckley (part of the UK Data Service Training team and based at the University of Manchester) along with Finn-Dymond Green (UK Data Service Director of Impact, based at Jisc), are leading an UKRI funded project to tackle it head-on. The goal? To equip social science data service professionals with the computational skills they need to thrive in this new environment. The project is about more than just training—it’s about building capacity within the global data services community. Here’s the plan:
- Upskilling UK Data Service Staff
- Service staff will get targeted training to help them develop essential computational skills.
- Foundational Training for the Global Community
- New, foundational-level online courses in computational social science will be developed and made accessible for data professionals worldwide to use, free of charge.
- Creating a Community of Practice
- A supportive network of professionals will be established to keep the learning going long after the project ends.
- Measuring What Works (and What Doesn’t)
- Keeping track of how well the training is working to learn from it and improve it.
Share your insights in our focus groups
We have received an overwhelming response to a call to participate in focus groups, and we will be conducting these over the next couple of months. If you have any questions about the project or sessions, please do not hesitate to email me
Who Benefits?
The direct beneficiaries of this project include:
- UK Data Service staff: They’ll have the chance to develop valuable computational skills, which will open new doors in their careers.
- Global Social Science Data Service staff: They’ll gain access to well-structured online courses designed to meet them where they are, no matter their starting point.
But the impact goes far beyond the individuals involved. By enhancing the skills and knowledge of data service professionals, this project will strengthen data services both in the UK and around the world. Plus, the Community of Practice will foster a culture of lifelong learning, ensuring that these benefits continue to grow over time.
Preparing for the future
This project is about more than addressing today’s challenges—it’s about preparing for the future by investing in training, creating accessible resources, and fostering collaboration.
So, whether you’re a seasoned social science data services professional or someone just starting in the field, this initiative has something for you. It’s a chance to grow, connect, and help shape the future of computational skills in the social sciences.
About the author
Vanessa Higgins is the Director of User Support and Training, and Co-Investigator for the UK Data Service. She leads the UK Data Service programme of training events, web-based training resources and online help for researchers and teachers using the quantitative and qualitative data hosted by the UK Data Service. She is also a Senior Research Fellow and lecturer at the University of Manchester focussing on data literacy skills and health inequalities.