OPUS Pilot University of Rijeka Achievements

• April 17, 2025

The University of Rijeka emphasised skill development among early-career researchers (including doctoral students), focusing on public engagement and science outreach. Key interventions involved policy measures, assignment of appropriate human resources, training on open access and outreach skills, establishing EduDoc (a centralised hub for Open Science resources), organising Open Science Cafés, and creating a virtual repository for outreach activities.

Impact: The University of Rijeka’s initiatives embedded Open Science in relevant policies as a prerequisite for offering UNIRI’s strategic direction and support Open Science practices at institutional level.

University of Rijeka reported on the hurdles of aligning national and institutional policies, while highlighting the crucial role of early career researchers. The University of Rijeka in Croatia has adopted a distinctive approach to its participation in the OPUS project, focusing on targeted interventions aligned with strategic objectives for advancing open science practices. Unlike other institutions involved in the initiative, Rijeka concentrated its efforts on a specific cohort of 17 early-career researchers from the Faculty of Law. These researchers were defined as individuals who either had not yet obtained a PhD or had completed their doctorate within the last five years.

Expanding Engagement Beyond the Cohort

While the pilot activities were initially tailored for this cohort, their relevance quickly extended to a broader audience. Consequently, sessions were opened to all interested parties while maintaining personalised support for the cohort to address their specific needs. This dual approach ensured inclusivity while preserving the focused nature of the interventions.

Collaborative Efforts and Institutional Support

The success of Rijeka’s pilot was underpinned by extensive collaboration across university departments. Although leadership figures such as Sasha and colleagues were prominent in meetings, a larger team contributed behind the scenes. The University Library played a pivotal role through its Centre for Open Science and Scientific Information Management, which facilitated many activities. Additionally, the newly established Science Outreach Centre provided timely support during its formative stages, enabling joint piloting of initiatives. A dedicated librarian at the Faculty of Law further enhanced the pilot’s implementation by serving as a key contact point and resource.

Key Achievements and Activities

Since the last mutual learning exercise in Bucharest (Month 9), several milestones have been reached:

• Policy Revision: The university’s open science policy was revised and adopted earlier this year.
• Training Sessions: Tailored one-on-one training sessions were delivered to early-career researchers on topics such as open access publishing, repository usage, and open science practices. Public speaking and outreach workshops added practical skills to the programme.
• EduDoc Platform: A dedicated subpage called EduDoc was launched to centralise resources for PhD students and early-career researchers.
• Open Science Cafés: Six cafés have been hosted so far, exceeding initial targets, with a seventh planned. These popular events foster discussion and engagement on open science topics suggested by participants.
• New Repositories: Platforms for publications, video materials, and outreach efforts were established to ensure accessibility and continuity.

Metrics and Progress Tracking

The pilot has demonstrated measurable success through structured indicators:

• Open Access Publications: The target of 70% openly available publications by Month 9 was surpassed with an achievement of 72%, reflecting robust progress toward end-of-project goals.
• Training Impact: Lifelong learning programmes introduced during the pilot will continue evolving based on participant feedback.
• Outreach Tools: Resources designed to help early-career researchers plan their own initiatives have been developed and integrated into broader institutional strategies.

Alignment with Broader Initiatives

The timing of OPUS has been particularly beneficial for University of Rijeka, coinciding with efforts to update its Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) Action Plan. Activities under OPUS have been coordinated with other projects such as COARA Boost Project OSCAR, launched in collaboration with the University of Cyprus.

Looking Ahead

As the pilot concludes, many of its successful activities will be sustained beyond the project’s timeline. The EduDoc platform will be regularly updated, Open Science Cafés will continue as recurring events, and training programmes will remain accessible to researchers at all levels. By embedding these practices into institutional frameworks, Rijeka is not only advancing open science locally but also contributing significantly to broader European efforts under OPUS.

The University of Rijeka is proud to announce the start of the OSCAR project (Open Science Collaboration for Research Career Advancement and Policy Innovation at UNIRI and UCY), funded under the Horizon Europe CoARA Boost call. This project, led by the University of Rijeka in partnership with the University of Cyprus and the European Office of Cyprus, aims to integrate Open Science principles into research evaluation practices, promote institutional change, foster o research culture reforms and engage national stakeholders and policymakers in an open dialogue on the reform of research assessment. Building on the outcomes of the OPUS project, which supports reforming the assessment of research(ers), OSCAR focuses on qualitative research evaluation frameworks while responsibly utilising quantitative metrics.

This initiative marks another significant step in advancing the principles of Open Science and its incorporation into research policies and practices across European universities.

University of Rijeka in Croatian Newspaper “Novi List”

OPEN SCIENCE — FREE ACCESS TO SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION IN THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
A Key Element of the Modern Research Process

In 2021, the University of Rijeka adopted its Open Science Policy, committing to a range of activities that promote open science among members of the university community. This includes ensuring open access to scientific publications and implementing models for editing and publishing open access scientific journals (OJS) and Open Monograph Press (OMP).

UNIRI (University of Rijeka) strongly supports the concept of open science and was the first in Croatia—and among the first in the EU—to adopt its own Declaration on Open Science in 2019. In 2021, it also adopted an Open Science Policy, committing to a series of actions aimed at promoting open science among the academic community, providing open access to scientific publications, and implementing models for editing and publishing open access journals (OJS) and monographs (OMP). UNIRI has established a system of institutional repositories for its constituents and the University Repository as part of the national infrastructure for digital academic archives and repositories (Dabar).

Dabar offers advanced search and navigation features aligned with international standards, compatible with OpenAIRE, the FAIR principles, and technical specifications of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). The University also participates in various partnerships and projects that promote open science, including activities of the Croatian Open Science Cloud (HR-OOZ) and the national Research Data Alliance (RDA) node.

Support for Reforming Research Assessment

Within this framework, the University is implementing the Open Universal Science (OPUS) project, funded through the Horizon Europe programme. The project involves the development of an action plan and specific activities targeting doctoral students and early-career researchers across three domains of academic work: research, education, and knowledge valorisation. This includes enhancing skills and performance in public engagement, popularisation and presentation, open science-related competencies, and publishing in open access formats.

Project leader and Head of the University Centre for Research and Innovation, Nataša Jakominić Marot, explains the project’s purpose and goals. It focuses on developing coordination measures and support for reforming research and researcher assessment in three research organisations, including the University of Rijeka and two funding bodies.

The project promotes a system that encourages and rewards researchers for practicing open science. Five pilot projects will be implemented to embed sustainable open science practices through action plans aimed at institutional and cultural change. These pilots aim to develop new approaches to empower and support researchers throughout their careers. The University of Rijeka’s OPUS Action Plan outlines a series of activities coordinated by the University Centre for Research and Innovation, with valuable contributions from the Faculty of Law, the Centre for Science Popularisation and Promotion (SOCRI), and the Centre for Open Science and Research Information Management (COZ) of the University Library Rijeka.

Promoting Transparency

The Centre for Open Science and Research Information Management (COZ) operates within the University Library of Rijeka to support the implementation of the University’s Open Science Policy.

COZ head Ivana Dorotić Malič and OPUS coordinator Jana Krišković Baždarić emphasise the importance of researching how open science influences scientific communication. Open science is becoming a key component of the modern research process, promoting transparency, collaboration, and global knowledge sharing. In addition to its website, COZ’s activities support the implementation of open science practices and the management of research information at the University.

A Broad Range of Activities

At the end of 2022, the University of Rijeka established the Centre for Science Popularisation and Promotion (SOCRI), which conducts a wide array of activities focused on science communication, event organisation, international cooperation, and promoting scientific and educational approaches to science popularisation. Under the leadership of Associate Professor Dr Vedrana Mikulić Crnković and Deputy Assistant Professor Dr Nina Čeh, the Centre designs and implements initiatives that foster better understanding of science and promote the University’s scientific and artistic endeavours.

The Centre aims to inspire initiatives that bring together various stakeholders and promote scientific literacy and interaction between scientists and the public. Through various projects and partnerships with the local community, the Centre works to preserve scientific and technological heritage and highlight the importance of science in society. SOCRI has been actively involved in empowering young researchers at the University of Rijeka to participate in science communication and popularisation activities, designing and implementing actions as part of the UNIRI OPUS Action Plan.

At the Faculty of Law in Rijeka, Professor Dr Ivana Kunda, Vice Dean for Science, and Dr Dejana Golenko, Scientific Adviser and Library Head, have designed and implemented specific activities under the OPUS Action Plan. These initiatives focus on a group of 17 early-career researchers, aiming to contribute to open science efforts in law and the social sciences in general. The Faculty’s commitment to open science is evident in its two open-access scientific journals, active involvement in international projects, and a strategic goal of strengthening doctoral education.

More information: The State of Open Science at the University of Rijeka