This six-week initiative, held each Thursday, was designed to support participants in developing the skills and strategies needed to establish and sustain Open Science Communities (OSCs) at their institutions. The programme included at least one representative from the 10 CIVICA universities bringing together a diverse group for collaboration each week.

The Open Science Communities (OSCs) in CIVICA aim to foster a culture of collaboration and to share knowledge across the alliance. This provides a place where librarians and researchers can share best practices, advocate for open research initiatives, and promote access to knowledge. Each university will have the responsibility of creating its communities, while the aim is to ensure open science principles are integrated into each university and practiced.

The sessions were presented by Lucy Lambe (Open Research Librarian, LSE Library), Meena Bharti (Open Research Assistant, CIVICA, LSE Library), and Jason Hazard (CIVICA Library Coordinator, Sciences Po). Together, they guided participants through key concepts, practical tools, and community-building strategies to foster a culture of open research.

Week 1: A Master Plan for CIVICA Open Science Communities

The programme began with an introduction to the OSC model from INOSC (International Network of Open Science & Scholarship Communities), the UNESCO Recommendations on Open Science, and the value of community-led approaches. Participants reflected on the current state of open science at their institutions and began drafting their communities' vision and mission statements using the OSC Masterplan.

Week 2: Launching a CIVICA Open Science Community: Strategy & Best Practices

In week two, the focus was on strategy. Participants identified early adopters, examined national open science policies, and started planning their community infrastructure, ranging from websites to launch events. Discussions highlighted common challenges and approaches to overcoming institutional barriers.

Week 3: Growing & Engaging Your Open Science Community in CIVICA

Participants explored ways to grow their communities through outreach and engagement strategies. They developed communications plans and considered how to keep members involved through events, messaging, and regular interaction. During the discussion for this week, the participants talked about some of the challenges and barriers to creating an OSC at their institutions and how they might overcome these barriers. Many participants talked about finding the right partners as well as engaging members to be involved with the community.

Week 4: Using Open Science Communities to Drive Research Collaboration

This session focused on how communities can support peer learning and drive institutional change. Participants discussed stakeholder engagement, resource sharing, and how to advocate for open science practices within their institutions. The participants thought about how to keep the dialogue going with the community and the needs of the community, and how to encourage others within the community. This included some having updates in the form of newsletters and meetups to discuss their OSC community.

Week 5: Sustaining CIVICA Open Science Communities: Funding & Inclusion Strategies

Week five emphasised long-term sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. Participants explored funding strategies, reflected on equity in open science, and considered what a supportive infrastructure for their community might look like. The participants were asked to think about their funding strategies, starting with their universities, and to consider outside grants to consider the long-term viability of their community.

Week 6: Wrap-Up & Next Steps for the CIVICA Open Research Network

The final session featured a guest talk from Raul Inzzauralde (University of Amsterdam), who shared insights from the development of OSCs in the Netherlands. Participants reflected on their progress and discussed the next steps as part of the growing CIVICA Open Research Community network.

More inclusivity, transparency and impact: the way ahead for CIVICA’s Open Research Community

Looking ahead, CIVICA will continue to build upon the work started with Open Science. This programme marks a significant step toward building a sustainable, community-driven open science culture across the member institutions. The hope is that this will empower local leaders and foster collaboration across borders. The CIVICA Open Research Community is helping shape a more inclusive, transparent, and impactful future for research in the social sciences and beyond.

Author: Jason Hazard, CIVICA Library Coordinator

Image credit: Zaini Izzuddin