We are pleased to announce a series of hands-on training workshops running in SETU on behalf of TU-Net throughout July 2026. The sessions are open to researchers, professional, and teaching staff, and are designed to build practical data skills you can apply directly in your research and professional work.
All sessions begin at 2:15 pm and run for two hours or more. No prior experience is required unless otherwise stated. Please register in advance using the Zoom links below.
At a Glance
- Thursday, 9 July — SQL for Researchers and Data Users — Register
- Tuesday, 14 July — Data Cleaning with OpenRefine — Register
- Thursday, 16 July — Data Visualisation with Power BI — Register
- Tuesday, 21 July — Research Tools Show and Tell — Register
Workshop Descriptions
1. SQL for Researchers and Data Users
Date: Thursday, 9 July | Time: 2:15 pm (two hours or more)
An introduction to SQL for researchers, administrators, and teaching staff, based on Library Carpentry materials. Covers querying, filtering, aggregation, and joins. No prior experience required. Bring a laptop.
By the end of the session, you will be able to construct SQL queries to interrogate real datasets and will have a solid foundation for further work with database tools in your research or professional practice.
📘 Before You Attend: Prerequisites & Preparation
Please complete the following steps before the SQL session so you are ready to take part:
- You will need to install DB Browser for SQLite.
- To import data, you’ll need to open DB Browser for SQLite and download a zip file containing the data files for this tutorial.
- Download the data files doaj-article-sample.zip from Zenodo.
- Open the zip file with the zip utility on your machine and save the folder and files to a location where you can easily find them — for example, your Desktop.
- Contained in the zip file are two files, doaj-article-sample.db and doaj-article-sample.db.sql. You can either open the database file (fewer steps) or import the SQL file (more steps).
Register for SQL for Researchers and Data Users →
2. Data Cleaning with OpenRefine
Date: Tuesday, 14 July | Time: 2:15 pm (two hours or more)
A practical introduction to OpenRefine for cleaning and transforming research data, based on Library and Data Carpentry materials. Covers faceting, clustering, reconciliation, and transformation. Suitable for all levels.
This session is well suited to researchers at any career stage who are preparing datasets for analysis or publication, as well as those in administration or library roles who work regularly with catalogue records or structured metadata. No prior experience is necessary.
📘 Before You Attend: Prerequisites & Preparation
Please complete the following steps before the OpenRefine session so you are ready to take part:
- Install OpenRefine, a free, open-source application. Download the latest stable version for your operating system — the Windows and macOS downloads include everything you need, while Linux also requires a Java Runtime Environment (JRE).
- OpenRefine runs in your web browser, so make sure you have a supported one — Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Safari (Internet Explorer is not supported).
- Download the sample data file doaj-article-sample.csv from the Library Carpentry lesson page. Right-click (or control-click) the link and choose “Save link as…” or “Download linked file”.
- Make a note of where you save the file — for example, your Desktop — so you can find it easily during the session.
Register for Data Cleaning with OpenRefine →
3. Data Visualisation with Power BI
Date: Thursday, 16 July | Time: 2:15 pm (two hours or more)
A hands-on introduction to Microsoft Power BI for data visualisation and reporting, accessible via your SETU Microsoft 365 account — no installation needed. Covers data import, shaping, and dashboard creation. Suitable for researchers, administrators, and teaching staff with basic spreadsheet experience.
Register for Data Visualisation with Power BI →
4. Research Tools Show and Tell
Date: Tuesday, 21 July | Time: 2:15 pm (two hours or more)
This participant-led session invites researchers, lecturers, and professional services staff to share the digital tools they rely on in their day-to-day work — and to discover what colleagues across the university are using. Whether you have found a brilliant reference manager, a clever writing aid, a data processing app, or a research platform that has transformed how you work, this is the place to share it.
The format is deliberately informal. Participants are invited to share their screen over Zoom/Teams and give a brief demonstration of a tool they would recommend.
This kind of peer-led exchange has proven genuinely valuable in the past, surfacing tools and workflows that many participants had never encountered, and creating connections between colleagues with shared interests. At the close of the session, a summary of all the tools discussed will be circulated to everyone who attended.
You do not need to present to attend — simply coming along to see what others are using is equally worthwhile. That said, if you have a tool you love, your fellow researchers will benefit from hearing about it. This workshop is highly recommended.
Register for Research Tools Show and Tell →
We look forward to seeing you at the sessions. For any queries about the programme, please get in touch with the TUNet team.