NOVA University (RPO, Portugal) Achievements

• April 17, 2025

NOVA University of Lisbon, UNL (RPO, Portugal): Empowering Early-Career Researchers

As an early signatory of international agreements on research assessment reform, Nova University is actively reshaping its evaluation processes to reflect the changing landscape of scientific research.

Key Initiatives at Nova University:

• Research Impact Narratives Challenge: This initiative encourages researchers to articulate the societal impact of their work, moving beyond traditional metrics and highlighting the real-world value of their research.
• International Standards Alignment: Nova University has revised its research performance evaluation policies to align with responsible research assessment principles, ensuring a more holistic and inclusive approach.

The university is also actively pursuing the HR Excellence in Research Award, which further underscores its commitment to improving research assessment practices and aligning them with European Commission guidelines. 

University NOVA Lisbon, Portugal, OPUS Pilot Implementation, and Next Activities

Early-career researchers were empowered through open-access publishing, open-source software, FAIR data management, and citizen science initiatives.

A framework for Open Science (OS) adoption was developed, prioritising institutional policies and researcher support.

• Policy Interventions: Interim OS guidelines are being formalised into a comprehensive policy to align internal procedures with best practices for dataset publication.
• Resource Allocation: Library staff provide direct support for OS queries, ensuring expertise in open-access publishing, data management, and software.
• Repository Management: NOVA developed a direct connector between its master CRIS system and institutional repository, enabling researchers to automatically fulfil national and international Open Access policies. Researchers are trained to use repositories such as GitHub and Zenodo, with full engagement expected by Month 18.
• Training and Awareness: Workshops and awareness sessions were delivered on a range of topics, including rights retention, Creative Commons licensing, publishing in the context of Open Science, data management, and citizen science.

NOVA University of Lisbon opened with an overview of their adaptive approach, stressing the importance of institutional flexibility and staff coordination.

NOVA University Lisbon has made significant strides in its efforts to institutionalise open science practices as part of its involvement in the OPUS project. The initiative, which aligns with national policies and aims to foster transparency and responsible research, has been a cornerstone of the university’s strategy to promote open access publications, data sharing, and software dissemination.

Institutional Goals and Strategic Framework
When embarking on this project, NOVA set out to develop dedicated policies that support open science. Key objectives included creating a comprehensive open science strategy for the institution and fostering a culture of transparency in research. The pilot phase focused on two main categories: research and valorisation. Within these areas, key efforts included data management, software development, publication production, and citizen engagement activities. These were further supported by complementary initiatives such as policy development, resource allocation, repository creation, awareness-raising sessions, and training workshops.

Collaboration with Research Centres

Nova partnered with two research centres to advance its goals. One centre specialises in disease and life sciences, while the other focuses on software development and digital infrastructure. This collaboration has been pivotal in addressing challenges related to policy interventions and resource allocation.

Policy Development and Implementation

NOVA has adopted a proactive approach by introducing an internal Open Science Guide, designed to serve as a foundational framework for researchers across all disciplines. The guide outlines best practices in open access publishing, data management, software sharing, and citizen science. It is fully aligned with international standards, including the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science and the FAIR principles, ensuring consistency and global relevance.

Progress in Key Areas

Open Access Publications
Monitoring commenced in Month 9 of the project (January 2024), and findings showed that all publications produced by the OPUS cohort during the first phase of implementation were made openly accessible

Data Sharing
Although open-source code was not initially available, NOVA supported OPUS cohort in making their code publicly accessible via platforms such as GitHub and Zenodo.

Software Development
Although the number of shared datasets from the OPUS cohort has not increased significantly, due to the timing of research cycles and the specific scope of their work, NOVA remains confident in its ability to meet targets in this area.

Citizen Engagement
While this aspect of the initiative is still in its early stages, groundwork has been laid to define its direction. More tangible outcomes are anticipated by Month 18 of the project.

Researcher Involvement and Training
Approximately 13 early-career researchers have participated in cohort activities focused on Open Science topics. Initiatives such as meetings, incentives and policy development have been implemented across five core areas: policy creation, resource allocation, repository use, awareness-raising efforts, and training workshops.

Challenges and Future Directions
Nova acknowledges that fostering a culture of data sharing and open-source development remains challenging. However, feedback from researchers indicates growing awareness of the benefits of open science practices. The university plans to conduct additional workshops and integrate further measures once a national policy is established.

By advancing these practices within its institution and contributing to broader goals under the OPUS project framework, Nova University Lisbon is playing a crucial role in shaping the future of open science for both its academic community and society at large.

Previously about the NOVA University Activities:

Advancing Knowledge: NOVA University Lisbon’s Commitment to Open Science

The State of Open Science at Nova University

Nova University Leads the Way in Research Assessment Reform