Open Science in Recruitment and Promotion Policies
Dutch knowledge institutions are taking steps to recognise and reward open science. On 13 December, the Open Science NL Steering Board approved a total of 1.2 million euros in grants to 23 institutions. The Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) will lead the national coordination of the local projects.
The national project ensures coordination and alignment between the 23 institutions in developing and implementing policy plans to recognise and reward open science practices in the Netherlands. The project organises national mutual learning meetings to inspire each other, stimulate collaboration and exchange knowledge and experiences, including good practices. In addition, the project is committed to developing shared principles on the recognition and rewarding of open science.
CWTS researchers Inge van der Weijden and Andrea Reyes Elizondo will lead the national coordination project. Inge van der Weijden emphasises the importance of collaboration:
"For open science to be integrated into hiring and promotion policies, we must share good practices and align our approaches. This prevents duplication and, more importantly, gives the academic community clarity on career perspectives. Many members move between institutions, so this clarity is crucial. We will build on the solid foundation of the National Recognition and Rewards Programme to facilitate coordination."
It is also important to align efforts in the Netherlands with international developments, van der Weijden adds.
"Our initiatives must align with the latest advances in Europe and beyond. We will build upon our existing connections with international projects like PathOS and GraspOS. We will also work closely with international networks such as the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). This way, we will not work in isolation."
This effort is much needed, as researchers and professional research support staff are increasingly committed to open science but are not yet consistently rewarded for their contributions. There is broad consensus that the transition to open science should not rely solely on the motivation of individual researchers; it must become an integral part of institutional policy, including recruitment and promotion policies. Valuing open science practices is also a priority for the national Recognition & Rewards programme.
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