Open Research

The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences has developed a new Open Research Strategy (2026–29), designed to reflect the specific needs and practices of researchers across our disciplines.

The strategy is grounded in the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science — a globally recognised framework promoting openness, equity and collaboration in research. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, the work centres on how open research principles can be made meaningful and workable for arts, humanities and social sciences communities.

The strategy responds to a changing policy landscape, including new funder requirements, the University's Rights Retention Strategy, and evolving expectations around research culture and assessment. It is structured around four areas: advocacy; support and training; research culture, ethics and integrity; and strategy and environment.

Key priorities include recognising diverse research outputs beyond traditional articles, promoting non-commercial publishing models, supporting ethical data sharing, and developing discipline-relevant training.

The Action Plan translates the ambitions of the CAHSS Open Research Strategy 2026–29 into a concrete set of commitments, creating a clear thread running from strategic vision through to activity. Spanning 19 specific actions across four interconnected areas — Advocacy, Training and Education, Culture and Integrity, and Strategy and Environment — the plan sets out how CAHSS will put its open research principles into practice over the coming years.