Advancing FAIR language data through training and capacity building: the Swiss contribution to CLARIN

Abstract

The CLARIN-CH ecosystem is unique in its approach to language resources, as it brings together a diverse range of research infrastructures distributed across the various language regions of Switzerland. In a larger European context, we present in this paper the CLARIN-CH training program, which plays a central role in Switzerland’s efforts to advance sustainable Open Research Data practices within the evolving landscape of Open Science. The program is structured around five principal axes of action: (i) assessing the needs of researchers across disciplines who work with language data, both within linguistics and beyond; (ii) collaborating with stakeholders, including researchers and training providers, to develop offerings tailored to these specific needs; (iii) organizing diverse training events using a variety of educational formats; (iv) co-developing Open Educational Resources aligned with the FAIR-by-design methodology; and (v) ensuring the publication and long-term accessibility of these resources via Zenodo for the CLARIN-CH community. In this contribution, we outline these core components of the training program and showcase three training initiatives delivered through multiple educational formats. The long-term goal of the CLARIN-CH training program is to contribute to capacity building among researchers working with language data, by promoting a spirit of lifelong learning and interdisciplinary collaboration. As such, Switzerland significantly contributes to CLARIN’s efforts put into disseminating knowledge and building capacity about language resources and promote best practices aligned with FAIR and Open Research Data principles.