The Conception and Development of Data Steward Training Programs in Hungary: The Roles of Collaboration, Necessity, Flexibility and Community-building

The official and accredited training of data stewards is a relatively new phenomenon worldwide. With the ever-growing presence of the Open Science and Open Data movements within the confines of academia, the need for professionals skilled in state-of-the-art data management and curation is axiomatic.

In Hungary two initiatives started unfolding in almost parallel fashion. The very first graduates of the first higher education level data steward training program at ELTE University received their degree in the autumn of 2024 (after three semesters of attendance). Similarly, the first ’graduates’ (more of an informal, not an accredited program) of the HUN-REN data steward training program received their certificates in January 2025. The HUN-REN data stewards started working in their newly created and acquired positions on the 1st of October.

The evolution of the HUN-REN Data Steward Network reflects a commitment to improving and institutionalizing research data management in Hungary. Each milestone represents a step forward in creating a robust and unified approach to data stewardship, ensuring that research data is managed efficiently and effectively across the network.

As the network continues to grow and develop, it serves as a model for other institutions and countries looking to enhance their own data management practices. The collaborative efforts and progressive initiatives undertaken by HUN-REN demonstrate the importance of data stewardship in the modern research landscape.

Forming the Hungarian national data steward community is based now on the informal collaboration between professionals and beginners from important institutions, marking a step towards the data steward professionalization in Hungary in which both ELTE’s DS training program and HUN-REN informal Data Steward Training program, as well as the HUN-REN Data Steward Network aim to play an important and effective role.