D5.1. Training and education in open science skills. GAP analysis

Abstract

The Regional University Network (RUN) is a European University made up of seven Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from 6 countries and has 75,000 students and 8,000 staff. All RUN-EU partners have a regional focus and are engaged in the three RUN-EU thematic areas: Future sustainable industry and regional development, bioeconomy and social innovation. The focus of the RUN-EU PLUS project (Professional Research Programmes for Business and Society) is on promoting the development of research and innovation collaborations with industry, business and societal partners for regional development. A central workpackage in the RUN-EU PLUS project is ‘Mainstreaming Open Science Practices’. Open science is defined by the European Commission (n.d.) as “An approach to the scientific process that focuses on spreading knowledge as soon as it is available using digital and collaborative technology. Expert groups, publications, news and events.” The individual partners of the RUN-EU alliance are all at different points on the pathway to develop their open science practices. The RUN European University is committed to mainstreaming open science practices and skills within its research and innovation platforms through the delivery of new programmes and initiatives aimed at further strengthening our commitment to open science principles. A comprehensive Data Management Plan - Deliverable 2.2- (Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, 2022) has been developed based on the principle that good data governance is essential to good research practice, ensuring that RUN-EU PLUS data is 'FAIR' (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable). This report highlights the current situation on the capacities of the member university research support teams to comply with open science principles and practices and identifying the main gaps to be addressed through training and education.