Meeting Data Workforce Needs: Indicators Based on Recent Data Curation Placements

Palmer, Carole L.; Thompson, Cheryl A.; Baker, Karen S.; Senseney, Megan

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/47308 Copy

Description

Title

Meeting Data Workforce Needs: Indicators Based on Recent Data Curation Placements

Author(s)

• Palmer, Carole L.
• Thompson, Cheryl A.
• Baker, Karen S.
• Senseney, Megan

Issue Date

2014-03-01

Keyword(s)

• data curation education
• data curation alumni survey
• job placement

Abstract

iSchools have been steadily advancing data curation education and practice in response to workforce demands. This paper reports on a formative evaluation of the Specialization in Data Curation at the University of Illinois, aimed at understanding job preparedness and work experiences of graduates and areas for improvement in data curation education. Survey results are complemented by additional graduate placement analysis. Employment and career satisfaction were high. Internships, practicum, and assistantships were considered key employability factors. Duties emphasize liaison and consulting, user instruction, data management, metadata, and policy development. About half of all placements were in academic libraries, with the second largest group in the corporate sector. This study, focused on the earliest formal LIS program in the U.S. dedicated to curating research data, provides important evidence of data curation responsibilities in the workforce and perceived educational gaps that can guide planning, design, and improvement of data curation programs.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2014 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

english

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/47308

DOI

https://doi.org/10.9776/14133

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2014 is held by the authors of individual items in the proceedings. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

Owning Collections