UNIMAS Pioneers Open Science Practices To Expand Knowledge Sharing

KOTA SAMARAHAN, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) is implementing Open Science practices across its diverse academic disciplines as a bold step to recognise the potential of enhancing scientific discovery and societal impact.

UNIMAS vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit said this groundbreaking initiative would highlight the university’s vision and position itself at the forefront of the global Open Science movement.

“At UNIMAS, we believe that knowledge should be freely available to everyone. We are fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation that will benefit not only our researchers but also the global scientific community and society at large,” he said in a statement today.

bootstrap slideshow

According to the statement, Open Science is gaining momentum worldwide as a paradigm that promotes accessibility and sharing of research outputs, facilitating seamless collaboration among researchers, both within UNIMAS and with their international partners. 

These partnerships have been accelerated by UNIMAS’s participation in the OPEN ASIA project which is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union to promote and implement Open Science practices across Asia, adopting from leading institutions in Europe.

On the domestic front, UNIMAS researchers are working closely with Universiti Malaya and Universiti Malaysia Sabah to establish an Open Science framework and platform that are aligned with Malaysia Open Science Platform. 

bootstrap slideshow

UNIMAS has already made significant strides in its Open Science journey with some of its key initiatives, including developing an Open Access Repository where researchers can freely share their publications, datasets, and other research outputs. 

The university also offers training programmes and workshops to equip researchers and students with the skills needed to engage in Open Science practices, hoping to inspire other institutions in Malaysia and around the world to embrace Open Science. 

“We are excited about the future of Open Science at UNIMAS. By breaking down barriers and opening up our research, we are not only advancing science but also contributing to the betterment of society,” added Ahmad Hata.

-- BERNAMA