KANSAI RDM
Human Resource Development Consortium
The KANSAI RDM Human Resource Development Consortium brings together academic and research institutions to develop staff who support research data management (RDM). Through training, shared resources and exchange of practical experience, it helps institutions strengthen RDM support and build a professional network.
Explore the international symposium10 November 2026 · Osaka & onlineAbout the Consortium
Institutions increasingly need to help researchers manage data responsibly, respond to open science policies and meet expectations for research integrity. Effective support requires people who understand both institutional requirements and the needs of different research fields.
The Consortium builds on Research Data Management (RDM) training and teaching-material development led by The University of Osaka since 2022. Its focus is on developing support professionals who can identify their institution’s needs and help design support suited to its resources and research environment. Activities in the 2026–2027 programme include training, exchange of support practices and international collaboration.
What We Do
- Provide training for staff who support RDM in academic and research institutions.
- Develop Data Steward skills and share teaching materials and learning resources.
- Exchange practical knowledge and institutional experience through discussion and professional networking.
Data Steward Training Programme
Drawing on Data Steward education programmes introduced in Europe, this six-session programme prepares participants to identify RDM challenges and coordinate support within their institutions. It connects policy, technical skills and disciplinary practice, culminating in the design of an institutional support approach.
Sessions generally combine lectures, participant discussion and hands-on activities. In-person participation across the programme is encouraged; lecture components are also streamed online. Training is free of charge.
2026–2027 Programme Overview
| Session | Date | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 August 2026 | Data management in historical and policy context; the role of Data Stewards |
| 2 | 18 September 2026 | Research integrity and ethical, legal and social issues |
| 3 | 27 October 2026 | Data processing and technical infrastructure, including Python, text, sensitive images and large datasets |
| 4 | 10 November 2026 | Research Data Management in the Humanities — workshop and international symposium |
| 5 | 25 January 2027 | Disciplinary practice: medical and oral healthcare data; agricultural data and smart agriculture |
| 6 | 19 February 2027 | Designing and practising Data Steward support: institutional challenges, support arrangements and presentations |
Session 4 takes place at Grand Front Osaka, Umekita SHIP Hall. The workshop is for in-person participants; the international symposium is hybrid and welcomes English-speaking participants. Japanese–English interpretation is planned for the symposium presentations and panel discussion.
Research Data Management in the Humanities
Challenges, Practices, and Research Support
This event brings together research data management (RDM) and research support practices from Japan and Europe to explore the needs of humanities researchers. An in-person workshop and a hybrid international symposium will connect practical examples with discussion of how institutions can support responsible data use.
English-speaking participants are welcome
Presentations and slides may be in English or Japanese. Japanese–English interpretation is planned for the symposium presentations and panel discussion.
Event Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, 10 November 2026 |
| Workshop | 11:30–13:30; in person only |
| International symposium | 15:20–18:30 JST / 07:20–10:30 CET; hybrid participation (in person and online). See below for other European times. |
| Venue | Grand Front Osaka, Umekita SHIP Hall, Osaka, Japan |
| Organiser | KANSAI RDM Human Resource Development Consortium |
| Intended audience | Librarians, university research administrators (URAs) and other research support staff, researchers, graduate students, and anyone interested in RDM or digital humanities |
| Languages | English-speaking participants are welcome. Japanese–English interpretation is planned for the symposium presentations and panel discussion; presentations and slides may be in English or Japanese. |
Your local time
International symposium:
Panel discussion:
Based on your device’s time zone. Japan times remain listed below.
Times for Online Participants
All times below are on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
| Time zone | Examples | Hybrid Symposium |
|---|---|---|
| JST (UTC+9) | Japan | 15:20–18:30 |
| GMT / WET (UTC+0) | UK, Ireland, mainland Portugal | 06:20–09:30 |
| CET (UTC+1) | Germany, France, Netherlands | 07:20–10:30 |
| EET (UTC+2) | Greece, Finland, Romania | 08:20–11:30 |
About the Event
Humanities research raises distinctive questions about what constitutes research data, how to build awareness of data management, and how to understand diverse data in context. The event will examine responsible management, sharing, publication and reuse through presentations, practical examples and discussion of approaches in Japan and Europe.
Topics include the FAIR principles; legal and ethical questions; RDM support services; data management plans (DMPs) and funding applications; digital humanities practice; and opportunities for international collaboration in RDM education and researcher support.
Natsuko Yoshiga, of the Graduate School of Humanities, The University of Osaka, contributed to the conception and development of this programme from its inception.
Workshop
11:30–13:30 JST | In-person participants only
Members of Freie Universität Berlin will lead the workshop. The two-part format below is planned.
Part 1 Research Data in Humanities Practice
Short videos featuring digital humanities researchers from Freie Universität Berlin will introduce concrete examples of research-data use in humanities research, followed by group discussion among participants.
Part 2 Supporting Humanities Researchers
The second part is being developed around practical examples of RDM support at Freie Universität Berlin. It will explore support and services for humanities researchers from the perspective of research support staff.
International Symposium
15:20–18:30 JST / 07:20–10:30 CET | In person and online
Overall chair: Hayato Kanzaki, The University of Osaka
The programme below uses Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9). European times for online participants are listed above. Presentation content and workshop details are being finalised.
| Time (JST) | Programme and speakers |
|---|---|
| 15:20–15:30 | Opening remarks Naoto Kai, The University of Osaka; Consortium Lead |
| 15:30–16:15 | Keynote Kiyonori Nagasaki, International Institute for Digital Humanities Presentation title to be confirmed |
| 16:15–16:25 | Break |
| 16:25–17:05 | Cosima Wagner and Sibylle Söring, Freie Universität Berlin Approximately 20 minutes each Presentation titles to be confirmed |
| 17:05–17:25 | Mari Agata, Faculty of Letters, Keio University Presentation title to be confirmed |
| 17:25–17:45 | Ayano Kokaze, International Center for the Digitization of Premodern Japanese Sources, Historiographical Institute, The University of Tokyo Presentation title to be confirmed |
| 17:45–18:00 | Break |
| 18:00–18:30 | Panel discussion: RDM and research support in the humanities Panellists: Cosima Wagner and Sibylle Söring, Freie Universität Berlin; Mari Agata, Keio University; Ayano Kokaze, The University of Tokyo Moderator: Nikolaos Voulgaris, The University of Osaka |
| 18:30 | Closing remarks Speaker to be confirmed |
Participation Enquiries
For enquiries about participation, please contact the Consortium Secretariat.
Contact the SecretariatMeet the Speakers
Kiyonori Nagasaki
Kiyonori Nagasaki is a Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Digital Humanities in Tokyo. His work explores digital methods for humanities research, including collaborative frameworks for Buddhist studies. He has contributed to digital humanities projects across institutions and to the development of digital humanities in Japan. Speaker profile
Cosima Wagner
Cosima Wagner is a Liaison Librarian for East Asian Studies at Freie Universität Berlin and a member of the University Library’s Research Data Management team. Her work addresses research data management in area studies, multilingual digital humanities, non-Latin scripts, and ethical questions surrounding historical research data. Speaker profile
Sibylle Söring
Sibylle Söring heads the Research Data Management team at Freie Universität Berlin’s University Library. She works on institutional data policy and services that help researchers plan and manage their data. Her background includes coordinating national information infrastructure projects in the humanities. Speaker profile
Mari Agata
Mari Agata is a Professor in the Faculty of Letters at Keio University, specialising in library and information science and bibliography. Her research uses digital images and analytical methods to study manuscripts and early printed books, including the Gutenberg Bible, and to investigate historical printing practices. Speaker profile
Ayano Kokaze
Ayano Kokaze is a Project Researcher at the International Center for the Digitization of Premodern Japanese Sources, Historiographical Institute, The University of Tokyo. Her research interests include digital humanities, digital history, eighteenth-century French history, and the structuring of historical sources through text encoding and databases. Speaker profile
Organisation and Coordination
The planning and operations team is based at The University of Osaka.
| Name | Institutional affiliation | Consortium role |
|---|---|---|
| Naoto Kai | D3 Center, The University of Osaka | Consortium Lead |
| Hayato Kanzaki | Research and Development Unit, University Library, The University of Osaka | Operations |
| Ikuko Maeda | Research and Development Unit, University Library, The University of Osaka | Operations and administrative support |
| Nikolaos Voulgaris | Research and Development Unit, University Library, The University of Osaka | Operations |
Member Institutions
The following institutions and organisational units are listed as members on the Consortium website as of 5 October 2026.
- The University of Osaka
- Kyoto University
- Kobe University
- Yokohama National University
- Nara Institute of Science and Technology
- Kyoto University of Advanced Science
- Tohoku University — Organization for Innovations in Data Synergy
- Aichi Medical University
- International Research Center for Japanese Studies
- Nagoya University
- Kobe City College of Nursing
- Kyoto University of Education
- Wakayama University
- Osaka Kyoiku University
- Hitotsubashi University
- Hiroshima University
- National Museum of Ethnology
- Shiga University
Membership and Participation
Membership is open to academic and research institutions, including institutions outside Kansai. Member institutions can access programme materials and recordings and take part in exchanges of RDM resources, knowledge and experience. Nominations for continuous attendance through Session 6 have closed. Opportunities to participate in individual programme sessions are announced separately. Contact the Secretariat to learn more about membership and participation.
Contact
KANSAI RDM Human Resource Development Consortium Secretariat
Research and Development Unit, University Library, The University of Osaka