Open RDI and education network to share policies, learning and experiences
This open network was launched for the transition of the higher education sector towards an increasingly open operating culture. The network is based on the steered coordinated network model and the purpose was defined as supporting the communication, implementing good practices and promoting joint development work. The network also participates in the cooperation at the national level.
The network was developed in Developing open RDI, Learning and Innovation Ecosystem at Universities of Applied Sciences Project 2018-2021.
The project develops
open research, development and innovation (RDI) and open learning models at
Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS). RDI activities are
practice-oriented, based on the needs of working life, focused on problem
solving, and have a strong regional impact. RDI work typically takes place in
close cooperation with customers, generating new knowledge, competence,
products and services. Student involvement in RDI projects is vital to their studies
with the objective of becoming acknowledged experts in their fields.
RDI is one of the mandated tasks of
UAS in Finland based on the UAS act. According to
the targets of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland, UAS are
committed to promoting open RDI practices. The
project has been co-funded by the Ministry and all the Finnish UAS are
committed to it.
In
the Finnish Higher Education sector, the level of openness has been
evaluated twice (Open Science and Research Initiative 2015 & 2016). The first evaluation in 2015 revealed that the openness was at that time
at quite a moderate level. The second evaluation in 2016 showed that the
development had proceeded well. The majority of the organisations scored at a level
of two out of five (most of the universities of applied sciences) and four out
of five (most of the universities).
A short description of
the ongoing project
The project consists
of five work packages (WP):
WP1: Strengthening of the open operation
culture
The objective of this WP is to strengthen the culture
of the open RDI at the UAS. This will be done by strengthening the training of
the RDI staff and by creating instructions. At the same time, the know-how of
the openness is moved to open education and learning also.
WP 2: Service network of the openness (a helpdesk
model)
A national service network, which offers expert help and
instructions for staff and students by solving of legal, ethical and
down-to-earth questions, will be created. The service network will be designed based
on the process model of open RDI. The service network will continue its
operation after the project.
WP 3: Integrating of open RDI into learning
The open RDI methods will be merged with learning as
part of the RDI work at UAS. Furthermore, the recommendations for integration
of open RDI into learning will be developed so that the know-how will move
naturally into the working life when the students enter the working life.
WP 4: FAIR data
This WP promotes FAIR data principles so that the
various materials (e.g. data, publications, theses, teaching materials) can be
widely utilized in society. The project actively participates in the
determination and development of the FAIR data solutions at a national and
international level.
WP 5: Towards open innovations
The WP promotes the better utilization of the knowledge,
information and results of open RDI. Also, the conversion to the innovations
and the students' role in the open RDI work is deepened. For this new data
flows, cooperation models and interactions are needed.
The contribution of the project is to enhance openness widely in society as
well as including RDI and UAS to the network of the open science movement. As a
result of this project, the openness can be widely utilised in the innovation
ecosystem of the Finnish UAS.
Coordinator Seinäjoki UAS
Coordinator for WP 1,4 and 5 Seinäjoki UAS
Cordinator for WP 2 and 3 Laurea UAS
Participants Haaga-Helia UAS, South-Eastern Finland UAS, Karelia UAS, Lahti UAS, Lapland UAS, Laurea UAS, Metropolia UAS , Tampere UAS, Turku UAS, Satakunta UAS and ja Aalto University.
Timetable 1.1.2018 - 31.12.2020
