Postgraduate Center
Der Knopfdrücker

Data Steward

Certificate Program

  • Short Facts
    Graduation

    Certificate of the University of Vienna

    Scope

    15 ECTS credits

    Format

    1 intensive week on-site + online classes

    Language

    English

    Duration & Costs

    2 semesters (part-time)

    EUR 1,600 per semester

    Application Deadline

    10th April - 30th June 2026

    Start

    Annually in October

    Register here

Data Stewardship for Research Institutions

Research data require professional management to ensure transparent and sustainable research. The data steward role has therefore become an established best practice at research institutions.

The “Data Steward” certificate program combines current research in research data management and open science with practical data stewardship tasks. You develop the ability to support researchers, assess requirements and contribute to FAIR data workflows in professional research environments.
 

Arnold Poeschl
  • Claudia Plant Porträt
    Postgraduate Center Universität Wien
    Data stewards are essential for sustainable and transparent research. This program provides the academic foundation and practical skills required for this emerging role.
    Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Inform.Univ. Dr. Claudia Plant, Academic Director

Events

Here you can find all upcoming events of the program. Feel free to check back regularly for the latest updates.

Occupational Fields and Careers

You qualify for data stewardship roles at universities, research institutions and research infrastructures. You develop competences to design and further develop research data services, support open science practices and advise researchers in a structured and needs-oriented manner. These acquired qualifications enable you to collaborate with researchers and technical experts in developing FAIR data workflows and sustainable data management strategies.

Barbara Mair

Modules

The certificate program consists of five modules that build progressively from foundational knowledge to applied project work. The modules address research data management across disciplines and cover the entire research data lifecycle.

At the beginning of the program, you explore the conceptual and normative foundations of research data management and open science. You gain an overview of key principles, roles and responsibilities in data stewardship and develop an understanding of legal, ethical and organizational frameworks relevant to research data.

Topics:

  • Principles of research data management, open science and data literacy
  • Roles and responsibilities of data stewards
  • Good scientific practice and research ethics
  • Legal frameworks, cost planning and funding models for research data management
     

In this module, you build essential technical knowledge for understanding data-driven research environments. You become familiar with core IT concepts, database systems and selected programming approaches that support research data management and analysis.

Topics:

  • Database systems and data structures
  • Introduction to programming through applied examples
  • Selected tools and programming languages used in research contexts

Focusing on the complete research data lifecycle, this module addresses the planning, handling and reuse of research data. You develop competences in managing, documenting, securing, publishing and reusing research data in accordance with FAIR principles and disciplinary standards.

Topics:

  • Research funding landscapes and basics of research project management
  • Data management plans, evaluation and implementation
  • Data structuring, cleaning, analysis and visualization
  • Metadata standards and data documentation
  • Data security, data migration, repositories and data archives
  • Data discovery, citation and legally compliant reuse
  • Discipline-specific approaches to research data management and data stewardship

With a strong focus on professional practice, this module prepares you for advisory and support activities in research data management. You learn how to design and deliver services, conduct needs assessments and translate researchers’ requirements into structured data management solutions.

Topics:

  • Research data management services and their target groups
  • Consultation, training and knowledge transfer methods
  • Needs assessment and requirements engineering

In the final module, you apply the acquired knowledge and skills in a practice-oriented project. You work on a concrete data stewardship task and consolidate your competences through independent, project-based work.

Insights

Admission Process

  • Admission Requirements

    • University entrance qualification examination OR a completed apprenticeship plus several years of relevant professional experience OR a completed master’s or diploma degree program
    • English language proficiency enabling the understanding of academic texts and lectures, corresponding at least to B2 level

  • Application

    Please upload the following application documents via the registration form:

    • Letter of motivation
    • Curriculum vitae
    • Proof of degree
    • Official photo ID
    • Proof of English language proficiency (self-assessed)

    All documents required for the application process have to be translated if they are not issued in German or English. Translations must be carried out by a court-sworn translator after legalisation. The legalisation itself must also be translated.

  • Further Procedure

    After submission, the application documents are reviewed. You will receive feedback on your admission status between mid and late July.

Ready for your next step?

Register here

Funding and Financing

Your continuing education is an investment in your future. The Postgraduate Center supports you in finding the right funding opportunities. Find out about educational grants, tax deductions, and financial support options: Funding and Financing

Take the opportunity to find out about state grants, scholarships, and employer subsidies – there are many paths to continuing education.

Der Knopfdrücker

FAQs

The start date is published in the short facts at the top of the program page.

Admission is possible with a completed degree or with a university entrance qualification examination or a completed apprenticeship combined with relevant professional experience. If you are unsure about your qualification, feel free to send us an email.

The program combines online and on-site elements. Detailed information is provided in the course schedule.

The course dates and times for the start in October 2026 are provided in the following table*:

ModuleDateTimeLocation
105.10.202610:00–16:30Universitätsring 1, 1010 Vienna
 06.10.202609:00–16:30Universitätsring 1, 1010 Vienna
 07.10.202609:00–16:45Universitätsring 1, 1010 Vienna
 08.10.202609:00–16:30Universitätsring 1, 1010 Vienna
 09.10.202609:00–12:15Universitätsring 1, 1010 Vienna
202.11.202616:00–18:00Installation Session, Online
 05.11.202609:00–16:30Online
 06.11.202609:00–16:30Online
 03.12.202609:00–16:30Online
 04.12.202609:00–16:30Online
314.01.202709:00–16:30Online
 15.01.202709:00–16:30Online
 11.02.202709:00–16:30Online
 12.02.202709:00–16:30Online
 11.03.202709:00–16:30Online
 12.03.202709:00–16:30Online
 08.04.202709:00–16:30Online
 09.04.202709:00–16:30Online
413.05.202709:00–16:30Online
 14.05.202709:00–16:30Online
5May–July 2027 Online

 

*Subject to change

The program is taught by an international, interdisciplinary team of lecturers and specialists who bring together academic research, practical experience in research data management and operation of infrastructures, open science, IT and data science, and policy-oriented perspectives. By bringing together a globally engaged team of experts, it is ensured that the program is grounded in the diverse realities of research data stewardship across disciplines and countries.

The program is designed for working professionals and supports compatibility with professional and personal commitments.

After successful completion, you receive a university certificate in Data Stewardship from the University of Vienna.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Program Management.

Program Newsletter

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Academic Director

Claudia Plant Porträt
Postgraduate Center Universität Wien
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Inform.Univ. Dr.

Claudia Plant

Academic Director


Tereza Kalova Porträt
Postgraduate Center Universität Wien
MA (Res), M.A. LIS

Tereza Kalová

Academic Coordinator


Contact

Portrait Karin Faktor
Postgraduate Center Universität Wien
Mag.

Karin Faktor

Program Management

Vienna University Library
Universitätsring 1
A-1010 Vienna


+43-1-4277-15329
datasteward(at)univie.ac.at

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