Open Science and Research

We promote open research and science practices in all areas of open science and research.

Open culture

By open operating culture, we mean open practices and operating models that permeate the entire Turku UAS and the tools that support them, which are accessible, sustainable and promote inclusion. From the perspective of an open operating culture, we strengthen our expertise in open science and research by providing training, guides and support services to our personnel.

We have signed the DORA (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment) and the CoARA (Coalition for Advanced Research Assessment). The CoARA defines common principles for the evaluation of research, such as adherence to ethically responsible practices. The measures highlight the qualitative assessment of research and the researcher. 

We strengthen the visibility of expertise by encouraging Turku UAS researchers and experts to implement the Researcher’s Profile tool in Tiedejatutkimus.fi service.

Open publishing 

Open access refers to the ability to read and link publications in full text so that they are available to the higher education community and all interested parties free of charge online. 

Open access publishing is encouraged at Turku University of Applied Sciences, and self-archiving is part of the processes of Turku University of Applied Sciences. Also in Turku UAS’s publication series and other own publication channels, the focus is on open access publishing. 

We open publications written by Turku UAS staff by parallel publishing them permanently for all interested people to read in Turku UAS’ open publication archive Theseus in ways allowed by publishers.

Transparency of research data 

The opening of research data refers to the management and processing of data in accordance with good scientific practice in such a way that the sharing of data is successful when necessary. Management of the research data includes making the metadata of the research data public and searchable, even if the data itself is not opened.

The research materials and methods produced at Turku University of Applied Sciences are opened and the results are published, unless otherwise agreed on a case-by-case basis, for example, from the point of view of data protection or goals related to the commercialisation of information. 

Open education 

The goal of open education is to expand access to and participation in learning for all by removing barriers and improving accessibility, supply and learner centricity. Open education enriches teaching and combines the paths of formal and informal learning. It is often implemented using digital technology.

Open education also includes the preparation, utilization and co-development of open learning materials. Open learning materials are materials used in teaching, learning and research, such as courses and assignments. These materials may be either copyright-free or licensed in such a way that their use, modification and distribution is permitted.  

At Turku UAS, learning is learner-centered, active and close to working life in accordance with the organization’s pedagogical principles. The activities take into account the national sub-alignment of open science and research on the open education and learning materials). Open education promotes diversity of learning and supports accessibility.

At Turku UAS, learning materials are encouraged to be opened at the Open Learning Materials Library (AOE). When preparing open learning materials, you can use the quality criteria for Open Learning Materials. In addition, the copyright of the learning materials and their permitted further use must be taken into account. The learning material to be opened is accompanied by a CC license, the selection of which is supported by Turku UAS CC licenses selection chart. In addition, the metadata of the learning materials should highlight information about their accessibility.

Open teaching practices are the operating method of higher education at Turku UAS, which enables continuous learning.

The development of open science is carried out in close national cooperation. We participate in the national coordination of open science and research by actively participating in expert and working group work.

Turku UAS’s open operating culture includes both utilising information produced elsewhere in one’s own operations and sharing the materials and learning materials, methods and expertise produced as widely as possible. For sharing outputs, we recommend the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license.

Utilising the operating models of openness will contribute to ensuring the functional capacity and effectiveness of the University of Applied Sciences in future operating environments. At the same time, they increase the quality, reliability and visibility of research and learning.