Encouraging policy
Rooted in principles endorsed by UNESCO, VUB considers Open Science to be a paradigm that democratises access to knowledge, improves the quality and reproducibility of research, and promotes social engagement. It emphasises openness at all stages of the research cycle: from data collection to publication, dissemination, and evaluation.
At VUB, Open Science is understood as a broad, inclusive framework that includes open access to publications and data, early exchange of research protocols, societal engagement and open peer review. This approach is in line with international principles and reflects the university's strategic goal of making research verifiable, reusable and socially engaged.
To support researchers, VUB has implemented a stimulating policy, infrastructure and guidance, ranging from standard open access to training, community initiatives and advice on good publication practices.
Open Acces publications
Open Access publications are central to VUB's Open Science policy. Through our standard Open Access policy, VUB encourages and facilitates unrestricted access to scientific publications, making research results widely available to both academic and non-academic audiences. Researchers are supported in choosing between different Open Access routes, with clear guidelines on compliance with funding conditions, copyright management and quality assurance. This commitment ensures that government-funded research is accessible to everyone, increasing the impact of citations, knowledge exchange and societal benefit.
Open and FAIR
Open and FAIR Data methods are actively promoted to improve the usability and transparency of research. The VUB encourages researchers to make their data findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) so that it can be shared, cited and used as a basis for further research in a meaningful way. We believe that open access must go hand in hand with quality: data must be well documented, correctly formatted and ethically sound. Sensitive and/or confidential information must be handled with care before being shared, with the support of the university's research staff. By promoting the FAIR principles, the VUB contributes to more rigorous and efficient science.
Research Communication & Citizen Science
Research communication and citizen science are essential components of our vision. VUB is convinced that making research accessible to a wider audience strengthens democracy, education and the resilience of society. Through its Research Outreach & Communication Office, the university supports researchers in engaging audiences of all ages and backgrounds, whether through events, training courses, workshops, accessible communication or participatory research. The Citizen Science Contact Point further assists researchers in all forms and types of participatory and co-creative research, from idea development to impact dissemination. By promoting mutual inspiration between science and society, VUB ensures that research not only informs but also engages the communities it serves.
Citizen Science Research Outreach & Communication on Intranet
Generative AI
As part of VUB's vision, the use of generative AI (GenAI) in research is encouraged. However, any use of GenAI must comply with the principles set out in the VUB guidelines for AI in research and the advice on data protection. VUB recognizes that GenAI can improve the efficiency and quality of research. Therefore, VUB supports its researchers in the use of GenAI through information pages, videos, and workshops. Finally, there is also a contact point for questions about generative AI in research. This comprehensive approach promotes the responsible use of GenAI in research processes.