WE ENHANCE OPEN SCIENCE SKILLS

THE CHALLENGE

As a result of current data capture methods and data malpractice, approximately 50% of all research data and experiments is considered not reproducible, and the vast majority (likely over 80%) of data never makes it to a trusted and sustainable repository, according to a report on research published by the European Commission in 2016.

Open science is seen as a way of improving the quality of research. It is an approach that makes research processes and data open and transparent at all stages, from planning to dissemination of results, and which encourages collaboration among researchers. Transparency means that problems in methodology and data capture can be identified and solved sooner; openness means that results can be validated more quickly. Early feedback adds to quality of research outcomes.

More and more scientists across the world are introducing open science practices into their work. However, there are diverse approaches to open science in different disciplines, regions and institutions, and there is still a lack of practical guidance and training for researchers.

Through practical training, EIFL supports researchers and their institutions to integrate open science into their daily workflows.

Iryna Kuchma, EIFL Open Access Programme Manager facilitates a cafe-type discussion at the FOSTER/PASTEUR4OA workshop ‘Open Access Policy for Europe: the Implications for European Research Libraries’.

WHAT WE DO

We train researchers, librarians and policy-makers on open science.
We organize train-the-trainer activities with the network of open science trainers.
We led the training work package within the FOSTER project, which set in place sustainable mechanisms for European Union (EU) researchers to foster open science in their daily workflows.
We chair the OpenAIRE AMKE Training and Support Standing Committee that develops training strategy and monitors and measures training operations. We served on the EOSC (European Open Science Cloud) Association Data stewardship curricula and career paths Task Force. We were part of a working group building a skills and training framework for the EOSC, and co-chaired the Community of Practice for Training Coordinators (CoP) for the OpenAIRE project.
We create training materials, for example, the EIFL Digital Research Literacy Training Programme Outline for Librarians.
We engage with different stakeholders, especially young, early career researchers, to help them to practise open science.
We advocate for research incentives and structures that support and promote the acquisition of open science and open research skills.

GET INVOLVED

Want to know more? Contact EIFL Open Access Programme Manager Iryna Kuchma: iryna.kuchma@eifl.net.

What I especially like about EIFL’s training and resources is how they marry open science theory with practical skills. Open science can sometimes be very abstract. But EIFL’s training makes it practical and interesting.

- Eglė Juodė, Information Manager, Department Of Scientific Information and Data at Vilnius University, Lithuania

FACTS

1

EIFL and our partners trained over 374,300 researchers, librarians and research administrators in open access, open data and open science from 2004 - 2025.

2

EIFL has built a Community of Practice of open science trainers who regularly participate in monthly meetings.

EIFL-OA IN ACTION