At FSD, staff AI competence is being strengthened particularly through the AIMS project. One of the project’s goals is to develop FSD’s capabilities in utilising AI-based solutions and services within its workflows and user services. The focus is on practical solutions and applying existing technologies. The work package includes setting up a staff learning programme on the use of AI solutions.
FSD aims to increase AI competence across the entire staff by offering training opportunities on various AI tools, including those provided by Tampere University. FSD staff work in three modules: Administration and Projects, User Services and Data Processing, and Technical Services. A key part of building AI competence has been identifying what each module needs and tailoring the training accordingly. This ensures that each module receives genuinely useful knowledge about AI-based solutions and opportunities.
Figure 1: Themes of AI training attended by FSD staff in 2025.
Figure 1 shows the themes connected to AI-related training attended by staff. All personnel have participated in common training sessions on practical ways to use AI in everyday tasks, such as drafting documents, summarising reports, analysing data, and searching for information efficiently. It has been essential to identify areas where AI can assist with work tasks. Staff members have also attended AI training aligned with their own focus areas and interests, including:
- AI policy, ethical issues, and privacy and security
- Software development and deep learning in machine learning
- Understanding concepts related to AI skills
- Improving efficiency in administrative tasks
- AI agents and prompting
- The role of AI in research and education
In addition, FSD staff have participated in AI-related conferences that strengthen expertise, provide the latest insights into developments in the field, and enable networking with other stakeholders. These conferences have focused on topics such as software development, technology and innovative solutions, and the use of AI in organisations, including repositories.
AI training or conferences alone are not enough to utilise AI in a solution-oriented and creative way. What is learned must be put into practice, and FSD staff have begun using suitable AI-based tools in their work. As part of the AIMS project, FSD is piloting selected AI-driven solutions within its workflows and user-driven services. More about these initiatives will be shared in blog posts throughout 2026.
In the next blog post, we will turn to the FIDELIS project. This post will introduce pilot training sessions where members of the FIDELIS network had the opportunity to participate in a pilot round of implementation training. This type of support will be offered throughout the project to help repositories implement and adopt good practices, tools, services, and other solutions to increase their trustworthiness.
Wishing you a wonderful start to December and happy holidays!
Henna Kaartinen
Project Assistant
firstname.surname [at] tuni.fi
The AIMS project is funded by the Research Council of Finland through the second phase of the FIRI2024 call for national research infrastructures for 2025–2028.
See this blog entry in Finnish.
