The transition of higher education institutions towards open science – Dolly Montoya

On December 6th and 7th, we held the Executive Council meeting of the Union of Universities of Latin America (UDUAL) in Bogotá. Among the commitments resulting from this meeting was the strengthening of knowledge management through the integration of repositories in the Latin American Network of University Archives, a portal that, in addition to offering elements for discussion on common problems, contributes to the construction of memory in the region and is an expression of the transition towards open science.

We also shared the latest issue of the National University of Colombia Journal In its fifth era, the magazine focuses on the agrarian problem in Colombia, a source of profound inequalities and social conflicts in our country, requiring a solution built collaboratively from the ground up to consolidate the longed-for peace. This journal, which throughout its 152-year history has been characterized by its contribution to society with quality information and analysis, is guided by university purposes and values and aims to make knowledge accessible to everyone.

The National University of Colombia, as a public university of the nation, is committed to its knowledge management approach, engaging in dialogue with diverse forms of knowledge and traditions, and to placing knowledge at the service of communities. In this context, our commitment to an open access policy, in harmony with intellectual property rights, is clear.

Open science promotes the democratization of knowledge, inclusive and equitable participation in governance, and the strengthening of civic culture for ethical and informed decision-making. Access to scientific knowledge is now a human right and a common good. Universities also have much to learn from their interactions with communities. Through the exchange of knowledge and expertise, universities can contribute to the well-being and well-being of society.

Universities, and public universities in particular, have the responsibility to promote open access to knowledge and ensure that their research findings are disseminated and applied to address societal problems. Open science offers the opportunity to establish more productive and transparent relationships between researchers and society. In this way, they contribute to building an informed public opinion and fostering citizen participation in research processes. Furthermore, there is much to be learned from communities to make the university's mission more relevant.

Thanks to digital transformation and ICTs, new forms of interaction, management, and access to information have become possible, transcending geographical and temporal boundaries. Through the decentralization of spaces for consulting and disseminating information, the production of inter- and transdisciplinary, inter-institutional, and inter-sectoral knowledge is facilitated in networks that allow us to develop joint solutions to the problems that affect us globally.

The Virtual Library of the National University of Colombia It makes available to readers the diverse knowledge and expertise generated at our nine UNAL campuses. We produce a book daily, in addition to research articles in indexed international and institutional academic journals, among other resources. Furthermore, it offers open access to 700 books and a journal portal with sixty institutional journals.

The Institutional Repository of our University It contains over 62,000 documents, has had more than 85 million downloads in the last ten years, and has established itself as the largest in the country and one of the best in Latin America. Furthermore, it is part of the Latin American network of open access repositories., The Reference, which seeks to present the region's scientific output as a public good.

Through the collective leadership of the universities that make up the Colombian Association of Universities (ASCUN), a transformative agreement was reached with several international publishers. Thanks to this alliance, in addition to accessing scientific information managed by these publishers, we will be able to publish and share a significant volume of scientific articles by Colombian authors with the world in open access.

The pandemic highlighted the importance of science for the public. A culture of data analysis, information comprehension, and scientific knowledge is essential, one that prioritizes solidarity and the common good. This experience has taught us the importance of strengthening knowledge generation and management networks, as well as fostering cooperation.

As higher education institutions, especially as public universities, we are committed to creating and disseminating knowledge within our communities, aligned with the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the adoption of the recommendations of the International Mission of Wise Men for the advancement of science, technology and innovation in Colombia, proposed at the end of 2019.

Universities have the capacity to share knowledge and experience to address major local challenges within a global context. Let's move from our desks to the field, sharing and building knowledge collaboratively with diverse sectors and social actors, and fostering constructive dialogue on the applications and implications of experiences geared towards sustainable development.

Source: The Observatory of the Colombian University

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