Public sector workers urged to explore open data potential

Public sector workers are gathering in Glasgow today for the latest in a series of government-backed workshops intended to promote open data.

The programme of free workshops, which are set to run through to September, is targeting all public sector organisations across Scotland with up to 560 places available in total. 

It follows the Scottish Government’s Open Data Strategy setting out an ambition for all public authorities to make data available online with an open license in a machine-readable format by 2017.

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Open data refers to data that is publicly available for anyone to access, use or share.

One-day introduction courses aimed at public sector leaders, senior managers and data owners are being offered as well as two-day extended courses for those who require a more in-depth knowledge.

Today’s workshop at the University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre is the 12th event to take place, with others in Kilmarnock, Dundee, Edinburgh and Inverness to follow.

Pippa Gardner, CEO and co-founder of Urban Tide, which has been contracted by the Scottish Government to deliver the workshops, said: “We are keen to make sure that everyone across the public sector in Scotland is aware of these training opportunities.”