Open Asia: Boosting Engagements of HEIs in Open Science in India and Malaysia

3rd Consortium Meeting & Open Science Forum.
February 24–27, 2025 | Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, India (TIET), Patiala, India

The third project meeting of the Erasmus+ project OPEN-ASIA: Boosting Engagement of HEIs in Open Science in India and Malaysia (Reference No. 101128493) was successfully hosted by Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET), Patiala. The event took place from 24^th to 27^th February, 2025, and included both the 3rd Consortium Meeting and the 3rd Open Science Forum (OSF3) under the OPEN-ASIA initiative.

NMIMS was represented by Dr. Jayakumar Singh, Dean of the Sunandan Divatia School of Science, Dr. Archana Bhise, Associate Dean, Research, Mukesh Patel School of Technology Management & Engineering, and Ms. Meena Saxena, Director, International Linkages & Global Project Coordinator.

The meeting convened key stakeholders from academia, industry, and research institutions across India, Malaysia, and Slovenia. In-depth discussions focused on fostering a robust culture of Open Science—emphasizing collaboration, transparency, and equitable access to scientific research. Participants engaged in meaningful dialogues aimed at strengthening collaborative research ecosystems, aligned with global best practices and emerging national policy frameworks.

Open Science Meeting

Innovative Sessions on AI and Sustainability

Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, Asia South at NVIDIA spoke on “The Role of AI in Higher Education,” highlighting AI’s transformative potential in pedagogy and research.
A compelling panel addressed NEP 2020 and sustainability as core pillars in shaping the future of Indian higher education.

Work Package Deliberations under the Open Asia Project

Institutions discussed collaborative goals in areas like inclusive open science (WP3), university-level open science infrastructure (WP4), and participatory science (WP6).
NMIMS actively contributed as a moderator in WP1 (Project Management) and WP2 (Quality Control).

Open Science Forum (OSF3) Sessions

Open Science at TIET

Sri Ram shared insights into TIET’s open-source practices and digital repository frameworks.
An engaging panel discussion on FAIR data principles underscored the need for better compliance and tools to ensure data findability and reusability. Archana Bhise from NMIMS outlined the key initiatives undertaken and presented the future roadmap for implementing Open Science both at NMIMS and across India. Dr Marjoleen moderated the session.
NMIMS was entrusted for conducting a survey to assess Open Science Skills Gaps. This survey was specifically designed for:
- Technical/support staff: IT specialists, programmers,
- Librarians: creating and maintaining operational research and OS infrastructure, offering OS/ research informational support practitioners

Inspirational Demonstrations and Talks

Jaswinder Singh showcased the Lab-on-Wheels, a mobile STEM education initiative, which is an outstanding model for outreach and engagement.
Sessions on Mini-MOOCs, CAPSAL (Centre for Academic Practices and Student Learning), and Open Research Infrastructure highlighted TIET’s strategic focus on scalable, inclusive learning and research ecosystems.

Global Perspectives

Professor Nada Trunk Širca emphasized how open science can bridge research inequalities globally, encouraging collaboration beyond national boundaries.
Discussions on India’s emerging Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) stressed the importance of national policies in promoting open access.

Key Takeaways

Open science and open infrastructure are not just technological transitions but cultural and institutional shifts.
Thapar Institute serves as a strong example of integrating policy, pedagogy, and public engagement in research.
Collaboration across institutions in Asia can amplify impact, especially when aligned with NEP 2020 and global open science movements.