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We regard scientific knowledge as a public good and a universal right. Open Science is based on the public values of equality, justice, diversity and transparency. These values are reflected in the sharing of knowledge and research results and in a transparent and participatory research process. Sharing knowledge with colleagues and with society is central to what we do and think. We actively seek connection and meaningful collaboration inside and outside the university. We actively contribute to the transition to an open academic world. We do this by participating in national and international networks and by focusing on a sustainable, open knowledge infrastructure.

We have worked successfully in recent years through an integrated, programme-based approach to implement the principles of Open Science and build support for the thinking through the themes of Open Access¹, FAIR data & software², Open Education, Recognition and Rewards and Public Engagement.

Open Access

Much has been achieved in the field of Open Access in the recent period. Policies have been developed and consolidated and the percentage of Open Access articles is now over 95 per cent. To take the final step, it is important for managers (and peers) to further embrace Open Access publishing through the philosophy of Recognition and Rewards.

FAIR data and software

It is essential for research data to be transparent and reproducible in order to ensure and maintain the integrity of research, especially with digitalisation and AI playing an increasing role. Substantial steps have already been taken with respect to FAIR data & software, but we are not there yet. There is still work to do in monitoring the open data and software landscape and in developing recognition and rewards for tasks on FAIR data and software. There are also still steps to be taken in embedding the databoard and developing data and software policies. We ensure that academics are well equipped to bring Open Science principles into research and education practice, and we facilitate the secure sharing and use of research data and results.

Open Science is based on the public values of equality, justice, diversity and transparency. Sharing knowledge with colleagues and with society is central to what we do and think.

Open Education

We are proud of our education and what it enables us to achieve, and we want others to benefit too. Embedding the principles of Open Education in the Utrecht education model will make our education more accessible and enable it to reach a larger and more diverse target group. For example, we can make more and more educational materials publicly available and enable teachers to reuse and co-develop open educational materials and open textbooks. We will involve external partners in the development, innovation and provision of education. Transdisciplinary forms of education such as community engaged learning and challenge-based education allow students to learn directly from and contribute to real issues in society.

Recognition and Rewards

The transition to Open Science is a fundamental change in academic culture and practice. Acceptance, support and engagement in our community is necessary for creating a working environment where the principles of Open Science are the norm. Those principles are included in the concept of Recognition & Rewards and we embed them in our thinking (values), actions (behaviour) and organising (policies). Everyone's contribution counts; an open discussion culture and caring for each other are part of the Recognition & Rewards philosophy. We aim to internalise this thinking so that it becomes part of our learning and working environment. The Utrecht TRIPLE model is a tool for putting the principles into practice. Leadership and Team Spirit are central to Utrecht's TRIPLE policy for developing and valuing employees (see also Engaged Community).

Public Engagement

Sharing knowledge with society as a reciprocal process is an inseparable part of Open Science. We share the activities, results and outputs of scientific research with a broad audience in various ways. This is basically a two-way street, with the aim of benefiting both parties. We therefore invite people from outside the university to contribute to our education  and research and look for opportunities for co-creation through sustainable collaborations. Building and working in reciprocal partnerships requires specific skills, including dealing with differing values, social media reactions and public scrutiny, as well as monitoring scientific independence. We support academics in developing and strengthening the necessary competences and ensure safe, effective conditions for public engagement.

Open where possible, closed when necessary

We recognise that knowledge and information security are essential prerequisites for information sharing. Open Science does not mean unchecked sharing of all knowledge and data with everyone. Instead, we implement clear guidelines and measures to enhance safe accessibility and reusability. We provide adequate, strong data management and training and support for teachers, researchers and students so that they know how to handle information safely. In order to possess and maintain control and authority over our own work and research data, we plan to explore how to reduce our dependence on big tech in the coming period (see also Creation and implementation).

^{1: Open access makes research results from around the world accessible to everyone online for free. Examples include scientific publications, research data and e-books.
2: FAIR data stands for research data that is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable by others.}

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• Engaged Community