The UK Data Service is pleased to announce the successful delivery of the Population Research UK – Skills Development for Managing Longitudinal Data for Sharing project. This initiative aimed to build capacity in data management within the Longitudinal Population Studies (LPS) community. The project, a foundational initiative of the Population Research UK (PRUK) programme, was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Medical Research Council (MRC).
Comprehensive training and open resources
Launched in October 2023 and completed in March 2025, the project sought to address critical skills gaps by providing high-quality training for data managers working with longitudinal studies. Through a series of engagement work including workshops and surveys, the project team prepared and delivered online workshops and freely accessible resources to enhance data management practices, making LPS data sharing more efficient and even more impactful.
Over 300 participants from 12 countries attended training sessions covering topics such as data documentation, anonymisation, curation, and harmonisation. Importantly, the project also made possible the creation and dissemination of “train the trainer” materials, enabling others to use and adapt the materials within their own institutions, thereby amplifying the project’s reach and sustainability.
Key outputs and resources
The project has produced a rich suite of openly accessible resources, including:
- Introductory Research Data Management Course: A multi-session training course providing foundational research data management skills, focusing on data documentation, storage, sharing, and ethical considerations.
- Train-the-Trainer Package: A comprehensive instructor toolkit designed to empower trainers to deliver workshops independently.
- Data Management Reference Guides: Practical guides on best practices for data formatting, documentation, and anonymisation.
- Synthetic Data Workshop Materials: Demonstrations and guidance on generating and using synthetic datasets for safe data sharing.
- Harmony Data Tool Resources: Hands-on materials introducing the Harmony tool for data harmonisation, enhancing consistency across studies.
All training materials are openly available via the Zenodo repository under the PRUK community, promoting knowledge sharing and continuous improvement of data management practices.
Evaluation and impact report: documenting progress and lessons learned
As part of the project’s conclusion, we have published a detailed Evaluation and Impact Report, documenting the achievements, challenges, and recommendations resulting from the PRUK Skills Development initiative. The report highlights the project’s reach, feedback from participants, and the effectiveness of the training resources. It also outlines recommendations for sustaining and building upon the progress made.
Community engagement and future plans
The project actively engaged with the LPS community throughout its duration. We used feedback from participants to refine training materials and ensure alignment with community needs. Presentations at conferences, such as the Society for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (SLLS) 2024 conference, further disseminated the findings and encouraged collaboration.
Moving forward, the UK Data Service aims to continue supporting the LPS community by building upon the lessons learned and recommendations from this project. We plan to create enhanced training resources, expanded community networks, and pursue further integration of these materials into regular training.
Explore the project and access resources
Visit the PRUK Skills Development project page for a comprehensive overview of the initiative, and access the full Evaluation and Impact Report on Zenodo for further details.