The FAIR RDM Bootcamp for Data Stewards was designed to meet a critical challenge: enabling data stewards to move beyond theoretical understanding of the FAIR principles and to apply them confidently in real-world research workflows. Many participants entered the Bootcamp with awareness of FAIR concepts, but lacked structured opportunities to practice them. The Bootcamp session  ‘A deeper dive into putting FAIR RDM into practice : Understand how to make your Data FAIR though metadata, PIDs and Trusted Repositories' directly addressed this need. This session guided learners through the essential steps of implementing the FAIR principles in action from creating and enriching metadata and assigning Persistent Identifiers (PIDs) to selecting appropriate licenses and depositing datasets in trusted repositories like Zenodo and Dataverse. Through a concise lecture, a guided exercise, and project-based activities, the session fulfilled one of the Bootcamp’s core purposes: equipping data stewards with the hands-on competence to make data truly Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. However, a recurring challenge in intensive training events is maintaining momentum once the live sessions conclude. Learners often need additional time, space, and resources to consolidate their understanding and practice newly acquired skills. To address this, the complementary OpenPlato learning module: FAIR Research Data Management: A deeper dive into putting FAIR RDM into practice  was developed as a self-paced, digital continuation of the Bootcamp experience. It transformed the live sessions into an interactive, modular learning pathway complete with SCORM activities, embedded Bootcamp recordings, and downloadable exercises. This design ensured that the Bootcamp’s impact extended beyond its four-day structure. Within OpenPlato, learners could revisit the same topics, repeat hands-on tasks, and explore connected FAIR tools such as FAIRsharing, RE3DATA, Zenodo, and Dataverse at their own pace. The platform’s structured layout featuring “Course Material of the Day,” “Daily Assignment_Think like a Data Steward,” and “Self-evaluation Day 3”, provided a clear, guided progression through each topic. By integrating reflection, assessment, and application, OpenPlato turned the Bootcamp’s temporary learning momentum into a sustainable, evolving digital experience that supports continuous skill development, professional growth, and long-term FAIR stewardship capacity.

This session was designed to realize the Bootcamp’s practical mission: giving learners the means to apply FAIR in real research contexts. Through guided demonstrations, reflection exercises, and project-based assignments, participants learned how to identify appropriate metadata standards, apply persistent identifiers, select trusted repositories, and license data for reuse. These steps mirrored authentic research workflows, reinforcing the Bootcamp’s goal of producing stewards capable of implementing FAIR RDM practices rather than just understanding them conceptually. OpenPlato strengthened this implementation focus by embedding every instructional element: slides, exercises, tools, and project templates within an intuitive digital structure. The e-learning format allowed participants to replicate and expand their Bootcamp work independently, revisiting Zenodo and Dataverse deposit exercises or exploring FAIRsharing and RE3DATA registries directly from the platform. Automated feedback, reflective prompts, and downloadable templates turned the course into an active workspace for experimentation. In essence, OpenPlato became both the continuation and the digital extension of the Bootcamp’s learning design transforming temporary workshops into enduring, reusable knowledge assets. By the end of both the FAIR RDM Bootcamp & OpenPlato course, participants had the chance to go through content and exercises, fillin questionnaires, and monitor their progress all within a self-paced environment.Furthermore, they could download their personalised certificate containing a verification code and the digital badge indicating their successful learning journey.

The session ‘A deeper dive into putting FAIR RDM into practice : Understand how to make your Data FAIR though metadata, PIDs and Trusted Repositories’ delivered measurable outcomes that aligned perfectly with the FAIR RDM Bootcamp’s mission to transform knowledge into applied competence. By the end of the Bootcamp, participants had developed a tangible ability to document data using appropriate metadata standards, link outputs with PIDs, and deposit datasets in open repositories. These outcomes were not only observed in live exercises but also evidenced through continued participation and engagement in the OpenPlato environment. Across the Bootcamp’s full course space: “Research Data Management (RDM) for Data Stewards” under the PATTERN program, 79 learners enrolled, representing a diverse group of early-career researchers and data stewards from partner institutions. Of these, 65 participants remained actively engaged and in progress toward completion, demonstrating sustained interest beyond the synchronous sessions. The specific OpenPlato self-paced course, “FAIR Research Data Management: A deeper dive into putting FAIR RDM into practice,” attracted 24 dedicated learners, with 8 successfully completing the certification requirements and 1 currently in progress. This indicates a healthy post-Bootcamp continuation rate of over 35% completion within the follow-up course, a strong outcome for a self-paced module designed for independent study. These numbers show how the integration of OpenPlato amplified the Bootcamp’s long-term impact. Instead of ending when the live sessions concluded, learning continued asynchronously allowing participants to consolidate skills, review Bootcamp recordings, and complete certification tasks at their own pace. The platform’s analytics demonstrate a pattern of return engagement, with learners revisiting specific materials such as the metadata and repository exercises weeks after the live event. This blended approach combining immersive Bootcamp sessions with persistent e-learning access ensured that the FAIR RDM training was not a one-time experience but a sustainable professional development pathway. The continued activity across both course instances illustrates how OpenPlato functions as a living learning ecosystem, supporting learner autonomy, institutional capacity building, and the long-term goals of the PATTERN project in creating a network of FAIR-ready data stewards across Europe.