Open Research Position Statement
NTU is committed to facilitating and maintaining an institutional culture of open research. The emphasis on culture reflects the University’s view that an Open Research environment enables and promotes research excellence. Our commitment to Open Research is aligned with the priorities of funders, publishers and the expectations of the public through Valuing Ideas, a core principle within our current University strategy, University, reimagined.
What is Open Research?
Open Research is a movement concerning how research is performed and communicated. It encompasses practices such as pre-registration; use of preprint servers and open peer review; open access publishing; and the production of research materials, software, code, and data that are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR).
Open Research is a positive disruptor of traditional and well-established scholarly systems and processes, encouraging the rapid, free, and global exchange of knowledge. It harnesses emergent technology to disseminate research to the widest audience for maximum impact. This enables inclusive and equal access to research and drives innovation. The use of open methods and infrastructures promotes engagement with communities, empowers diverse voices and fosters international collaboration. Open, reproducible and/ or transparent research practices instil confidence in research by reinforcing its rigour, reliability, quality, and integrity.
NTU Open Research core values
In recognition of the societal and economic benefits of Open Research, we are “open as possible, closed as necessary”. Openness is our default position, but we are respectful of:
- Disciplinary difference: we understand that routes to openness in research are many and varied. Each discipline will employ diverse and relevant approaches to achieve openness, inclusivity, and engagement in research.
- Timeliness: we encourage research to be shared quickly to accelerate innovation and progress, whilst also acknowledging that the optimal point for sharing research openly must be judged carefully.
- Other principles that inform research practice: research should not be made public if it compromises our legal and ethical obligations, and/or our right to commercially exploit our research.
NTU will:
- Develop Open Research communities and open researchers.
- Integrate Open Research principles into the practice of research assessment.
- Implement structures, systems, and infrastructure to support our Open Research agenda.
- Promote more sustainable and open publication models.
- Communicate our message on Open Research to our research community and advocate the adoption of research best practice in line with our core Open Research values.
- These ambitions constitute the University’s Open Research Strategic Plan, which is underpinned by a detailed Action Plan and overseen by the University Open Research and Research Integrity Committee.
NTU researchers will:
- Adopt an open mindset, defining what openness means for them and their research.
- Embed open and inclusive methods and processes throughout the lifecycle of their research.
- Engage with disciplinary, departmental, University-wide as well as external communities of practice.
- Create and manage standard identifiers for individuals (e.g. ORCID) and research outputs (e.g. DOIs) to aid discoverability and re-use.
- Apply FAIR principles for the dissemination of all research assets generated during their research.
Open Research Awards
The awards are designed to recognise any member of NTU staff – academic, technical, professional services, or postgraduate researchers – who demonstrate a commitment to using open research practices in their work.