UK Community Development of a Research Technical Professionals Skills Framework
This talk was presented at the University of Manchester Open Research Conference, 9-10 June 2025.
As digital research becomes more integrated into the arts and humanities sectors, the role of digital Research Professionals has become increasingly vital, facilitating collaboration and innovation. This term is broader than Research Software Engineer (RSE) and data stewards, roles well-defined at Manchester. The growing demand for such roles has highlighted the need for clearer definitions of the skills and pathways for professional development. To address this gap, a new national ‘RSE Competencies Toolkit’ is proposed (name subject to change) – a community-driven resource designed to define, visualise and track the progression of skills. The Toolkit offers a structured collection of skills, accompanied by visualisations. It provides value to individuals, allowing them to periodically assess their skills and identify opportunities for progression. Managers will benefit from a clear and transparent view of their team, aiding in task allocation. The Toolkit also covers non-technical skills, including management and interpersonal skills. This presentation describes the latest Toolkit work, and looks at how an open tool can be built and applied if there is appropriate initiative and commitment from the community. We propose to collaboratively review the framework to enhance our collective understanding, ensure alignment with wider community goals, and identify any gaps, inconsistencies, or overlooked aspects of the framework that may need further consideration or improvement.
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