‘Open’ as a standard for higher education and research

SURF, after mapping out the ‘open’ landscape by order of the European Commission, has issued a recommendation stating that Europe must develop a broad policy framework in order to realise the full potential of the openness of higher-education and research results. ‘Open’ is now an important modus operandi ... Open access to content and infrastructure .. As one of the authors of the policy report titled: e-InfraNet: 'Open' as the default modus operandi for research and higher education, SURF is calling on the European Commission to draw up a policy framework for open access to content and infrastructure. These conditions will enable an open environment to further develop autonomously. Open Access to higher education and research results will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the higher education and research system. ... European opinion leaders and experts ...  Various European opinion leaders and technical experts from higher education and research worked together on the eInfraNet-project, in which the Netherlands was represented by SURF. The findings of the e-InfraNet policy report included: [1] an assessment of the openness of the current landscape within European higher education and research [2] an overview of current international policy developments [3] an overview of worldwide developments and initiatives ... Coordinated policy approach ...  European opinion leaders and experts examined the context, motivations, developments and results of each of the ‘Opens’, revealing a collection of joint benefits and issues. Their study resulted in the recommendation for a coordinated policy approach, able to benefit all forms of ‘Open’. The need for ‘Open’ Open Access to higher-education and research results expands the opportunities offered by knowledge. This is particularly important in a world of research questions that is becoming ever greater and more complex, a fact being observed and acknowledged more and more by education and research organisations, policymakers and funding providers. In its broadest sense, ‘Open’ encompasses: •    Open Access to research literature •    open data •    open educational resources •    open infrastructure and open standards •    open source software and open development •    open education •    open peer review •    open research •    open innovation."