diff --git a/_posts/2022/2022-11-30-HIFIS-at-EuSSI-training-bazar.md b/_posts/2022/2022-11-30-HIFIS-at-EuSSI-training-bazar.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d97a2eef27d04d5b20c31e14f93843caae9587fa --- /dev/null +++ b/_posts/2022/2022-11-30-HIFIS-at-EuSSI-training-bazar.md @@ -0,0 +1,57 @@ +--- +title: "HIFIS at the EuSSI training bazar" +title_image: adi-goldstein-mDinBvq1Sfg-unsplash_shrinked.jpg +data: 2022-11-30 +authors: + - erxleben +layout: blogpost +categories: + - News +tags: + - Education + - Report +excerpt: > + Together with the sister platforms HIDA and Helmholtz AI, HIFIS presented itself on the first EuSSI training bazar — an international event to network with European scientific software training initiatives. +--- + +### What is EuSSI? + +The [_European Software Sustainability Institute_](https://eussi.org) is a network of organizations following the example of the [SSI in the United Kingdom](https://www.software.ac.uk/). +Its goal is to raise awareness and share methods to improve the sustainability of reseach software. + +### The Training Bazar + +One measure to tackle these challenges is to take a closer look at the training activities regarding scientific software development. +For this very reason, the _EuSSI_ has recently invited many European training initiatives to share their goals, approaches and experiences regarding the training for research software engineering. +Together with our colleagues from [HIDA](https://www.helmholtz-hida.de/) and [Helmholtz AI](https://www.helmholtz.ai/), we presented the Incubator workshop process. +We gave an overview over the approaches taken by the three platforms, their common aspects, as well as highlighting the individual capabilities of each. + +Multiple other European initiatives and institutions also presented their respective teaching endeavours, among which were + +* [Netherlands eScience Center](https://www.esciencecenter.nl/), +* [CodeRefinery](https://coderefinery.org/), +* [HSF](https://hepsoftwarefoundation.org/) and +* [The Software Carpentries](https://software-carpentry.org/) + +Following these initial presentations a lively discussion was held to share experiences, network among the organizations and identify common challenges in a bid to start pooling our ressouces and knowledge to solve those. + +## Takeaway Messages + +It became clear very quickly, that many approaches on the topic of teaching Research Software Engineering across Europe are relatively young, but have already gathered considerable experience. + +The demand for RSE training opportunities is very high and current endeavours are not nearly sufficient to effectively cover this. +As a limiting factor the overall availability of _active_ instructors was identified. +But why are there not enough instructors to hold more classes? +Being an instructor is to often regarded as a "side quest" and often not considered a valid choice for a full-time career / job definition by individuals and organisations alike. +Coupled with non-permanent employment positions, it leads to many trained instructors who only rarely get the opportunity to apply or further develop their skills. +A strong culture shift is needed in this regard. + +Due to this bottleneck in available instructors' and organizers' time (which very often are the same person), a further approach is to strive to automate as many parts around the workshop organisation as possible. +Within Helmholtz, we use [HIFIS Events](https://cloud.helmholtz.de/services?serviceDetails=svc-ec78dddd-f44b-4062-a1a1-ba9c0ddaa70b) for advertising, registration and sharing information as needed software or log-in data for the participants. + +With regards to training materials it is a declared goal of the participants to increase the sharing and re-useing amongst each other and to promote _Open Education Resources_. +We started to publish our HIFIS workshop materials already some time ago, which you can find along with some tutorials at the [Learning Materials](https://hifis.net/services/overall/learning-materials). + + +## Questions? Comments? Suggestions? +If you have any feedback to tell us, don't hesitate to [contact us](mailto:support@hifis.net).