Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) advanced its open science agenda during a recent seminar at Tampere University in Finland.
UMS delegation led by Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation), Prof. Ir. Dr. Rosalam Sarbatly, shared UMS journey in open science adoption, focusing on research data sharing and the related challenges.
Topics covered included open science policy, infrastructure, educational courses, and Open Science Shop 2.0.
Rosalam in a statement noted that, in Malaysia, particularly in the biodiversity-rich state of Sabah, open science is becoming increasingly vital for sustainable development.
“Making scientific research and data freely accessible fosters collaboration to preserve Sabah's unique ecosystems and promotes sustainable agriculture.
“This open approach encourages innovation by allowing researchers to develop solutions tailored to Malaysia’s environmental needs.
“Moreover, open science empowers policymakers to make informed decisions with current data, supporting effective strategies,” he said.
He added that, open science advocates Malaysia to push for robust policies that support data sharing while maintaining data integrity and privacy.
“The seminar, with participants from Finland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, India, and Malaysia, allowed UMS to outline its policies encouraging open science, covering intellectual property rights, copyright, and plagiarism prevention.
“Despite these policies, UMS recognizes the need for a stronger framework to ensure secure research data sharing,” said Rosalam.
Meanwhile, UMS Chief Digital Officer, Prof. Dr. Awang Asri Ag. Ibrahim, highlighted the significance of open science in fostering innovation and collaboration.
“UMS engaged with partner universities at the seminar, exploring best practices and policy frameworks for secure data sharing, addressing the gap between existing policies and their practical implementation.
“UMS's commitment to open science is evident through its active leadership in the seminar.
“While challenges remain, UMS is dedicated to advancing open science in the Asian region. Insights from the seminar will guide UMS's efforts to create a secure and collaborative research environment,” said Awang Asri.
The seminar also featured Dr. Farashazillah Yahya, the Director of the Data and Information Management Centre at UMS, further demonstrating UMS's commitment to open science and secure data sharing, which such involvement underscores the university's readiness to lead in this evolving field.
