Building a stronger future for digital research
- Tools to recognise and map digital competencies
- Designed with and for the research community
- Clear skill levels to support career growth
- Pathways for training and professional development
We provide a framework to help digital professionals thrive in research environments
The Digital Research Competencies (DIRECT) Framework helps classify and describe the wide range of technical and non-technical skills used across digital research roles. These include researchers, research software engineers (RSEs), data specialists, group leads, principal investigators (PIs), archivists, bioinformaticians, and many more. It brings together examples of tools, methods, and behaviours that demonstrate skills, alongside training resources to support skill development. The framework provides a shared language for recognising expertise, planning training, and mapping career pathways.
By combining community input with best practices from across sectors, DIRECT supports individuals in charting their professional growth while helping organisations to build stronger, more inclusive teams.
Our vision is a research ecosystem where digital skills are visible, valued, and celebrated, empowering people to shape the future of research and innovation.
Professional approach
Individual growth
DIRECT empowers individuals to understand their current skills, identify areas for development, and access resources that support their personal career journey. Our framework adapts to a wide range of roles, making it meaningful for both early-career and established professionals.
Community collaboration
We build the framework with and for the community, ensuring diverse voices and experiences shape its development. Collaboration across disciplines helps create a shared language that strengthens connections and breaks down silos.
Organisational impact
DIRECT supports organisations in building stronger teams by clarifying skill needs, aligning training with strategic goals, and fostering inclusive pathways for career development. It enables leaders to recognise and celebrate expertise across their workforce.
How DIRECT supports different needs
For individuals
Map your current skills, discover training opportunities, and plan career development using a shared language recognised across research roles.
For research groups
Identify collective strengths and skill gaps, enabling teams to build complementary expertise and support fairer workload distribution.
For institutions
Use the framework to design training programmes, inform hiring practices, and strengthen career pathways for digital research professionals.
For the wider community
Share resources, align with best practices, and contribute to a growing ecosystem that makes digital skills more visible and valued across disciplines.