In the current issue of the FDZ Newsletter – LIfBi data No. 18 – you will find detailed information on the following topics:
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NEPS Publication Award and NEPS Conference: More than 120 researchers followed the invitation to the 10th International NEPS Conference on December 11-12, 2025, in Bamberg. Alongside 35 paper and 10 poster presentations, the LIfBi Lecture with the two winners of this year's NEPS Publication Award was a highlight of the event. The FDZ-LIfBi congratulates.
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New NEPS data offering designed for teaching and study: The NEPScomp data package provides a compact selection of NEPS data, allowing users to get started with the Scientific Use Files quickly and easily. Due to its simplified data structure, NEPScomp is particularly suitable for teaching purposes and for student research projects or theses.
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Improved linking options for regional data: By georeferencing the places of residence of NEPS study participants and embedding this information in a standardized grid of 100m x 100m, new options are available for enriching the NEPS survey data with small-scale regional indicators.
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NEPS-Schlaglichter: With the NEPS Highlights, the LIfBi is now offering a new transfer format that presents selected research findings in a condensed and understandable way using data from the National Educational Panel Study. The German-language content is free of charge and accessible without registration.
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Current and planned data releases: At the end of 2025, new data for the NEPS Starting Cohorts 4 and 6 were made available for scientific use, along with an update of the Scientific Use File for Starting Cohort 3. In the coming months, among other releases, data from the INSIDE study will be published for the first time.
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Dates and programs for NEPS data training courses in 2026: This year, a total of six free online courses on how to work with the NEPS data will be held. The one-day sessions are divided into basic and advanced modules. The FDZ-LIfBi also offers individually tailored “Trainings-on-Demand” for groups with specific needs.
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Service for contract management: To get an overview of one's own Data Use Agreements with the LIfBi and the associated data access permissions including expiration dates, a personal profile with all relevant information can be accessed at any time via the NEPS website. Simply log in with the nu-number and the password.
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Statistics on data usage: The year 2025 was marked by a continuing high demand for research data from the LIfBi – particularly the NEPS. A total of 251 new Data Use Agreements were concluded, and 331 individuals were registered as data users for the very first time. Compared to the previous years, usage figures stabilized at a high level.
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Publications: A comprehensive selection of articles, book chapters, and monographs published in the last half of 2025 gives an impression of the range and diversity of topics covered in publications using NEPS and ReGES data. All authors are encouraged to notify the FDZ-LIfBi of relevant publications by e-mail.
Please enjoy reading it.
FDZ Newsletter „LIfBi data No. 18“: Current issue with detailed information
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