IT training and digital skills
The University's Digital Inclusion, Skills & Creativity team (DISC) provide a range of face-to-face and online training opportunities, tailored to the needs of University students, researchers and staff. Training includes sessions on using Google Workspace, creating documents and presentations, managing references, and working with data.
Skills Guides
Our Skills Guides contain a wealth of online resources and links to training to help you build on your existing skills:
For specific software support, please see the Software pages.
Booking onto training
Listings for DISC training events can be found on the Skills Guides:
IT and digital skills training is provided to members of the University at no charge.
Further training for staff and researchers can be found on the University's course booking systems:
- Staff: via the University's Learning Management System
- Research Postgraduates: via Skills Forge.
Research Computing
For details of research computing training provided by IT Services, see: University of York training resources
IT Essentials
Get started using IT at York or refresh your existing knowledge with our IT Essentials online guide.
Staff Digital Skills Framework
The University has developed a Staff Digital Skills Framework to support staff in enhancing their skills. This provides one of the foundations for the wider digital strategy that is being developed by the University.
Useful communication tools
Find tools to help you keep in touch and collaborate with others online.
Working with data
Managing data effectively is a key skill in all aspects of academic life. Spreadsheets and databases are two commonly-used generic applications.
- Essential Spreadsheets: a practical guide
- Essential Access: a practical guide
- Data: a practical guide (including advice on data gathering and surveys)
Printable guides
Designing presentations
There are lots of ways by which you can present information to an audience, and not all of them involve projecting text and images from a software application. It's a common approach, though, and the Skills Guide provides information on the main applications people tend to use.
Printable guide
Google Apps
The applications in the Google Workspace can help with many everyday tasks.
Academic posters
Posters are often used to communicate research proposals and outcomes in a range of environments. PowerPoint can be used for this purpose.
Creating documents
Creating text documents is a common task, whether you're making essays, academic papers, reports, notes, or otherwise. Our resources explore using the features of Microsoft Word and Google Docs well, and knowing which is best for your purpose.
Printable guides on creating a thesis in Microsoft Word:
Managing references
Academic work needs accurate referencing, and reference management applications help with collecting, organise and citing.
Printable guides
University Information Systems
SITS, Data Warehouse & Agresso course materials: