Open Research Week 2025

At The Open University, we’ve always believed in the power of accessible education and research – open is who we are. Our mission is to remove obstacles to learning, and open research is a natural extension of that ethos.

Open Research Week is important for us because by sharing our approaches and our work openly, we invite discussion and critique, and—most importantly—progress.

It’s important to say that openness doesn’t mean an absence of rigor. On the contrary, open research encourages a higher level of accountability. Transparency in methodologies, in peer review, and in data sharing strengthens the credibility of our findings. It allows for scrutiny, replication, and improvement, making research more robust and trustworthy.

[Images here] This week, we’ll hear from experts leading the charge in science communication and in opening research processes to publics using citizen science platforms. We’re also very proud to be launching our free, online course on Open Research, and the team behind that will be taking us through what it offers researchers.

There are challenges – of course there are. We have to navigate questions of intellectual property and data privacy. And we have to think about sustainable funding models for open-access publishing. But, in keeping with our mission and our Open Societal Challenges of Sustainability, Living Well and Tackling Inequalities, we have to ensure that open research doesn’t inadvertently exclude those without the resources or infrastructure to participate fully in the research process. Equity must remain at the heart of this openness. It is not enough to open the doors of knowledge; we must make sure that everyone has the means to walk through them.

So, whether you’re an experienced advocate of open research or just starting to explore what it means, I encourage you to take full advantage of this week. Ask questions, share ideas, challenge assumptions, and most importantly, think about how open research can shape the future of your own work.

Here at The Open University, we’ve always embraced the spirit of openness in our teaching and research. Our commitment to open access and to making educational resources available to the widest audience possible, reflects our values and mission. But we must ask ourselves: How do we continue to move the conversation about openness forward?

The work we do in advancing open research, goes beyond simply making research outputs publicly available. It requires us to rethink the entire research process—from project conception, to how we collect data and share findings, and how we engage with the public and other researchers.

This week gives focus to these conversations, particularly around openness and AI, around citizen science, around open access publishing, and much more.

At its heart, open research is about breaking down the barriers that have traditionally limited access to knowledge and research outputs. The notion that knowledge should be open and accessible to everyone, regardless of their institutional or economic background, is increasingly being seen as the foundation for a more equitable, transparent, and innovative research culture.

My work has focussed on innovation in the global development setting. For decades, academic research has been locked away behind paywalls in journals and books that many people in both the global North and global South simply cannot afford or cannot access. But this model is now changing, and with good reason. By embracing open practices—whether it’s open data, open methodologies, or open peer review—we make the process of scientific inquiry more inclusive. And more inclusive means more innovative.

Much of what we’re sharing this week is part of an ongoing conversation about inclusivity and innovation. Our speakers are sharing examples of open practice and what works for them, because we know from experience that one size doesn’t fit all. I encourage everyone to help continue this conversation with us.