Tampere University at the highest level in a national monitoring of open science and research
Tampere University’s results are available on the Research.fi portal.
In Finland, nearly two-thirds of universities, about half of universities of applied sciences, and two research institutes achieved the highest ranking level in the recently published OS monitoring.
Three universities including Tampere University achieved the highest level in all monitored areas. As the only university, Tampere University received the highest level in both the previous monitoring in 2022 and the new one in 2024.
The national comparison shows that Finnish research organisations have established the most fundamental practices of openness. However, the monitoring also shows that all universities still need to develop their operations especially as regards open education and open educational resources.
The progress made with OS is welcomed by Vice President for Research Tapio Visakorpi who chairs the University’s OS steering group. Visakorpi encourages development work and benchmarking good practices to ensure that the University’s OS performance will continue at a high level. Next, the University community will be asked to define measures that specify and make Tampere University’s OS policy more concrete.
“We strive for scientific impact while acknowledging the diversity of research. OS is therefore an integral part of all research,” says Vice President Tapio Visakorpi.
Responsible assessment is part of Open Science
This year, the monitoring was significantly broader than the one in 2022, which was the first time. The comparison showed that organisations are committed to developing international research assessment and interpret it as a great strive forward in OS. The improvements are reflected in the follow-up questions that map the direction of responsible assessment.
“The development of OS is strongly influenced by career advancement practices, funding models and the good practices required by research funders. Research assessment methods are being developed in the close international and national CoARA cooperation. Funding models are discussed, e.g., in the funding working group of national OS coordination,” says Susanna Nykyri, Chief Specialist responsible for Open Science policy at TAU.
Tampere University participates in CoARA work which is making the responsible assessment of researchers and research more qualitative and considering various merits more diversely. Tampere University is an active participant in the development work conducted under the CoARA umbrella.
“Despite the excellent results we just got, the active promotion of OS is still greatly needed, and we are doing it on a significantly broader basis than the national monitoring. Next year, Tampere University will begin the Data Steward training, which has been prepared in extensive cooperation and supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture,” Nykyri mentions.
The training concentrates on increasing data management expertise.
Open science policy defines the principles
Tampere University updated its Open Science Policy in January 2024. The policy emphasises the openness of science and research, which is addressed from the perspectives of high-quality science and research, responsibility and impact.
The Open Science Policy serves as the guiding document in the promotion of OS at Tampere University. The University wants to promote the high scientific quality, transparency, impact, efficiency, and financial sustainability of research and teaching.
In the openness of research, improving the quality of research is a key element.
The openness of research materials and methods is meant to increase the transparency and impact of scientific research.
The openness of learning and learning materials is the most recent addition to OS practices and an area where universities are still only taking their first steps.
Open Science advances as part of the University’s activities
The national monitoring evaluates OS in the areas of operating culture, open publishing, open education, and data and infrastructures.
Measures promoting OS are being prepared at Tampere University to specify the principles defined in the policy and to make them more concrete for the university community.
Actions raised by the university community will be integrated into the operational planning of faculties and services.
“Our community will define which of the principles and goals in the policy will need special support as we develop our services. In this way, OS is organically integrated into the development of the University’s operations,” Nykyri points out.
OS promotes open access and open approaches in science and research.
The monitoring model was drafted by the National Steering Group for Open Science and Research. Monitoring is used to create an overview of the operating models and achievements in OS applied by the Finnish research community and organisations. It also encourages the organisations to develop their practices.
Further information:
Vice President for Research Tapio Visakorpi, tapio.visakorpi [at] tuni.fi (tapio[dot]visakorpi[at]tuni[dot]fi)
Chief Specialist Susanna Nykyri, susanna.nykyri [at] tuni.fi
Read the press release: Research performing organisations in Finland committed to open science
