Roles, Practices, and First Steps Towards Building Institutional Capacity
📅 Date: 15 June 2026
🏁 Start: 09:30 h
🚨 Registration
📍 Location: 2A Knyaz Dondukov Blvd., Sofia 1000 Hall 1–2, 7th floor
🎯 Type: In-Person
🧑🚀 Participants: researchers, policy makers, NGO representatives, librarians, IT professionals
🎤 Working Language: English
🎟️ Resume: This is the second part of a one-day train-the-trainers programme aimed at building capacity for research data management and quality of Data Management Plans in academic institutions in Bulgaria.
The training targets specialists from research-performing organisations, including university staff, librarians, research and innovation officers, IT professionals, and Open Science teams. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the data steward role, relevant legal and ethical frameworks, and practical tools, including Data Management Plans, metadata standards, repositories, and documentation practices.
The programme is interactive and tailored to the Bulgarian academic context, preparing participants to introduce data stewardship within their institutions and to conduct internal training and advisory activities. Participants will receive a certificate and commit to delivering at least one institutional training session.
Participation is free, with limited places.
Applications close 11 June 2026, and selected candidates will be notified by 12 June 2026.
Event organised as part of the Pilot Programme for Capacity Building of Higher Education Institutions and Research Organisations in the Creation and Use of Research Data through the Principles of Open, Responsible and Citizen Science, funded by the Ministry of Education and Science and coordinated by the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Programme
09:45–10:00
Registration and coffee
10:00–10:15
Opening
Assoc. Prof. Krassimira Ivanova - Scientific Secretary of the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Yanita Zherkova, Director of the Science Directorate, Ministry of Education and Science
Assoc. Prof. Milena Dobreva - Scientific Director of the Pilot Activities for Open Science
10:15–10.30
Participant introductions
Tour-de-table
10:30–12:00
Session 1: Introduction: The RDM Landscape in Bulgaria and Poland
Brief overview of the development of Open Science and Research Data Management (RDM) in Bulgaria.
Brief overview of the development of Open Science and Research Data Management (RDM) in Poland.
Key drivers: European Commission policies, EOSC, FAIR & CARE principles, and funder requirements.
Session 2: National-Level Developments
Evolution of national discussions on Open Science and research data sharing.
The role of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
Early and recent ministerial recommendations regarding Open Access and Open Research Data.
Current challenges and opportunities for national coordination.
Session 3: Institutional Policies and University-Level Implementation
Development of Open Science and Research Data policies at Polish universities.
Examples of institutional approaches to research data governance.
Building local support structures: data stewards, competence centres, repositories, and training programmes.
Lessons learned from implementation.
12:00–12:45
Lunch break
12:45–14:15
Session 4: Data Management Plans (DMPs) in Practice
Introduction of DMP requirements in Poland.
Experiences from supporting researchers in preparing and maintaining DMPs.
Common challenges and successful support mechanisms.
Session 5: The Role of the National Science Centre (NCN)
NCN Open Access and Open Research Data policy.
Mandatory Data Management Plans in NCN-funded projects.
Impact of funder requirements on institutional policies and researcher practices.
Session 5: The Role of the National Science Centre (NCN)
NCN Open Access and Open Research Data policy.
Mandatory Data Management Plans in NCN-funded projects.
Impact of funder requirements on institutional policies and researcher practices.
14:15–14:30
Coffee break
14:30–16:00
Session 6: EOSC and EOSC Poland (EOSC-PL)
EOSC as a strategic framework for research data sharing and FAIR implementation.
The establishment of the EOSC Poland National Node (EOSC-PL).
Opportunities for national coordination, interoperability, training, and service integration.
How EOSC-PL can support institutions in developing sustainable RDM policies and services.
Session 7: Discussion
Key recommendations for Bulgaria based on the Polish experience:
Start with clear national guidance and funder requirements.
Develop institutional policies alongside support services.
Invest in capacity building and data stewardship.
Align national initiatives with EOSC developments from the beginning.
16:00–16:15
Closing Remarks
Prof. Petar Stanchev - Scientific Director of the Pilot Activities for Open Science
Who will deliver the training?
International team:
Magdalena Szuflita- Zurawska, Gdansk University of Technology | Head of the Scientific-Technical Information Services, Open Science Competence Centre Leader; | Gdańsk Tech Rector's Plenipotentiary for Open Science
Dr Jordan Iliev, Bulgarian Portal for Open Science
Dr Ana Lazarova, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
Assoc. Prof. Milena Dobreva, Strathclyde University, UK
Prof. Peter Stanchev, Kettering University, Flint, Michigan, USA