Periodic Reporting for period 3 - Skills4EOSC (Skills for the European Open Science Commons: Creating a Training Ecosystem for Open and FAIR Science)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2024-09-01 do 2025-08-31
Open Science is transforming research by fostering openness, collaboration, and the reuse of data and knowledge. It lies at the heart of the European Research Area (ERA) and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), aiming to make research more transparent, inclusive, and impactful. However, achieving these ambitions requires a highly skilled workforce and aligned training systems across Europe. Fragmentation in learning opportunities, inconsistent skill recognition, and limited cross-border coordination remain significant barriers.
Skills4EOSC addressed these challenges by developing a coherent and sustainable ecosystem for Open Science competences, training, and professional recognition. Its vision was to equip researchers, data professionals, and policymakers with the necessary skills to make EOSC a reality, while ensuring that FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles become the “new normal” in European research.
The project pursued five overarching goals:
1. Define a shared competence framework through the Minimum Viable Skillsets (MVS).
2. Develop FAIR-by-Design methodologies and high-quality training resources for all stakeholder groups.
3. Establish a European network of Competence Centres (CCs) as national and thematic hubs for skills coordination.
4. Create Quality Assurance and Recognition frameworks to ensure transparency and credibility in learning outcomes.
5. Strengthen collaboration among European and national initiatives to foster long-term sustainability.
Integrating Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) and insights from the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH), Skills4EOSC ensured that Open Science training embeds ethical awareness, inclusiveness, and social responsibility. Together, these elements support a unified, EOSC-ready workforce that enables Europe to lead in responsible and data-driven research.
Skills4EOSC addressed these challenges by developing a coherent and sustainable ecosystem for Open Science competences, training, and professional recognition. Its vision was to equip researchers, data professionals, and policymakers with the necessary skills to make EOSC a reality, while ensuring that FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles become the “new normal” in European research.
The project pursued five overarching goals:
1. Define a shared competence framework through the Minimum Viable Skillsets (MVS).
2. Develop FAIR-by-Design methodologies and high-quality training resources for all stakeholder groups.
3. Establish a European network of Competence Centres (CCs) as national and thematic hubs for skills coordination.
4. Create Quality Assurance and Recognition frameworks to ensure transparency and credibility in learning outcomes.
5. Strengthen collaboration among European and national initiatives to foster long-term sustainability.
Integrating Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) and insights from the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH), Skills4EOSC ensured that Open Science training embeds ethical awareness, inclusiveness, and social responsibility. Together, these elements support a unified, EOSC-ready workforce that enables Europe to lead in responsible and data-driven research.
Over three years, Skills4EOSC delivered a comprehensive framework for developing, delivering, and recognising Open Science competences.
The MVS framework, covering 14 professional roles, provides a European reference for designing curricula and evaluating skills. It is already cited in the EOSC Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (2024) and the EOSC Federation Handbook (2025). An MVS Editorial Board was also created to ensure continuity and updates beyond the project’s duration.
The FAIR-by-Design methodology introduced a novel approach for creating reusable, interoperable learning materials, while the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) and Quality Compass tool set a new benchmark for evaluating training quality. The Recognition and Accreditation Framework complements these outputs by supporting Europe-wide validation through Open Badges and European Digital Credentials (EDC).
The Skills4EOSC Learning Platform became a key asset of the project, hosting 72 curated courses, 932 registered users, 3,117 role assignments, and 959 digital badges issued across 55 learning paths. The Train-the-Trainer programme engaged professionals from major infrastructures such as EPOS, CLARIN, DARIAH, FAIR-IMPACT and ATRIUM, creating a sustainable multiplier effect.
The Competence Centres Network (CCNet), formalised through 11 Memoranda of Understanding and several Letters of Intent, established a self-governing structure to ensure coordination and continuity of Open Science training in Europe.
Further achievements include the ELSI Knowledge Base, which integrates ethical and legal aspects into all outputs; the Science4Policy Toolkit, promoting evidence-informed policymaking; and thematic training on FAIR data in Artificial Intelligence and Health Technologies.
The MVS framework, covering 14 professional roles, provides a European reference for designing curricula and evaluating skills. It is already cited in the EOSC Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (2024) and the EOSC Federation Handbook (2025). An MVS Editorial Board was also created to ensure continuity and updates beyond the project’s duration.
The FAIR-by-Design methodology introduced a novel approach for creating reusable, interoperable learning materials, while the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) and Quality Compass tool set a new benchmark for evaluating training quality. The Recognition and Accreditation Framework complements these outputs by supporting Europe-wide validation through Open Badges and European Digital Credentials (EDC).
The Skills4EOSC Learning Platform became a key asset of the project, hosting 72 curated courses, 932 registered users, 3,117 role assignments, and 959 digital badges issued across 55 learning paths. The Train-the-Trainer programme engaged professionals from major infrastructures such as EPOS, CLARIN, DARIAH, FAIR-IMPACT and ATRIUM, creating a sustainable multiplier effect.
The Competence Centres Network (CCNet), formalised through 11 Memoranda of Understanding and several Letters of Intent, established a self-governing structure to ensure coordination and continuity of Open Science training in Europe.
Further achievements include the ELSI Knowledge Base, which integrates ethical and legal aspects into all outputs; the Science4Policy Toolkit, promoting evidence-informed policymaking; and thematic training on FAIR data in Artificial Intelligence and Health Technologies.
Skills4EOSC went far beyond existing initiatives by providing the first fully integrated system for Open Science competences in Europe.
- The Minimum Viable Skillsets (MVS) created a harmonised European taxonomy of skills, now used by universities, infrastructures, and policy actors.
- The FAIR-by-Design methodology extended the FAIR principles to learning materials, ensuring long-term usability and interoperability.
- The combination of Quality Assurance, Recognition and Accreditation Frameworks established a complete lifecycle for learning quality and validation, compatible with EDC standards.
- The Competence Centres Network (CCNet) introduced a sustainable governance model based on voluntary coordination, lightweight procedures, and open membership.
- The integration of ELSI and RRI frameworks ensures that all outputs respect ethical and social dimensions, a distinctive feature absent in earlier initiatives.
These results provide a replicable model for EOSC implementation and support European institutions in aligning training, assessment, and recognition systems.
To ensure continued success, several enabling actions are needed: ongoing support for the CCNet governance, maintenance of the MVS Editorial Board, policy endorsement of the QA and credentialing frameworks, and broader international alignment with UNESCO, GO FAIR, and OECD Open Science efforts.
- The Minimum Viable Skillsets (MVS) created a harmonised European taxonomy of skills, now used by universities, infrastructures, and policy actors.
- The FAIR-by-Design methodology extended the FAIR principles to learning materials, ensuring long-term usability and interoperability.
- The combination of Quality Assurance, Recognition and Accreditation Frameworks established a complete lifecycle for learning quality and validation, compatible with EDC standards.
- The Competence Centres Network (CCNet) introduced a sustainable governance model based on voluntary coordination, lightweight procedures, and open membership.
- The integration of ELSI and RRI frameworks ensures that all outputs respect ethical and social dimensions, a distinctive feature absent in earlier initiatives.
These results provide a replicable model for EOSC implementation and support European institutions in aligning training, assessment, and recognition systems.
To ensure continued success, several enabling actions are needed: ongoing support for the CCNet governance, maintenance of the MVS Editorial Board, policy endorsement of the QA and credentialing frameworks, and broader international alignment with UNESCO, GO FAIR, and OECD Open Science efforts.