4 Conferences and Training
Professional Development is critical to faculty members, administrators, and even support personnel at a university and especially in an academic library. Local, regional, national, and even international conferences and training sessions are important venues for sharing information, making professional connections, and keeping apprised of the latest research, innovations, and changes in academia. In recent years these types of events have broadened their reach with many taking place virtually via Zoom or other videoconferencing tools, giving attendees the ability to engage in presentations and discussions from the comfort of their own home or office.
As you begin laying the groundwork for your Research Data Services program, think about the events you or others in your department have attended that relate to this particular field. Have you or others attended conferences about library research data support? Does your campus offer training opportunities for software and research services that you could build on with your RDS program? Are there online professional development programs such as workshops, courses, or certification programs that you your others have participated in? Do you or your colleagues have digital badges or other certifications that you can use to display your subject area knowledge and expertise? Your Conferences and Training Inventory can also include upcoming or ongoing trainings and professional development opportunities.
Items to consider including on the Conferences and Training Inventory can include:
- Title of the event
- Date of the event
- Organizer of the event
- Names of key participants such as Leader, instructor, keynote speaker
- Notable topics and important takeaways
- Products or deliverables created from the event. (i.e. instructional modules, surveys, publications, etc.)
Knowledge Check