Open Access
Open Access makes scientific publications freely accessible – free of charge and without restriction. This benefits researchers, professionals and the general public.
Open Science
The term Open Science comprises aspects that seek to make scientific research open and transparent.
The implementation of Open Science requires a fundamental change in the way research is conducted and taught.
We actively support and promote Open Science. Concrete offers and assistance are available for the following areas:
- Open Access
- Open Research Data
- Open-Source Software
- Open Educational Resources
We are guided by the National Open Science Strategy and the National Open Access Strategy.
To establish Open Science, we have defined our own Open Science Strategy. The expectations we have of our scientists are defined in our Open Science Policy.
Working closely with the Data Stewards, the University Library (Team eResources/Open Access) and the Virtual Academy (Teaching), the Vice Presidents’ Office Research coordinates the area of Open Science with a focus on Open Access, Open Research Data, Open Source and Open Educational Resources. The Open Science Board supports the Open Science Unit in an advisory capacity.
We promote Open Access in many different ways in accordance with the National Strategy of swissuniversities:
- … advises researchers who want to publish in Open Access.
- … operates the institutional repository ARBOR, where all publications of the BFH are listed. True to the principle of Open Access, the majority of the publications are directly available for reading.
- … concludes Open Access agreements with publishers.
Further links
Open Research Data
Open Research Data refers to the publication and sharing of research data. Researchers make their raw data, experimental results or data sets available.
With Open Research Data, other scientists and interested parties can review, replicate and use the research data for further studies.
The application of the “FAIR principles” (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) ensures that research data can be found and accessed in a standardised and reusable form.
Our Data Stewards…
- … offer individual consulting in the area of Open Research Data.
- … conduct regular training courses.
Thanks to our membership of the Swiss data repository OLOS, BFH staff are able to use OLOS to publish their research data.
Sharing research data creates transparency in research, because anyone can view and use the data.
Further Links
Open Source Software
Open source software refers to programmes that are published under an open source licence.
The open source licence allows the software to be copied as desired. At the same time, the source code of the software is openly available and may also be changed. This means that open source software is always free of licence fees and can be viewed transparently.
Community of Practice
An internal BFH "Community of Practice" offers interested BFH members ...
- ... peer reviews.
- ... concrete assistance with open source software.
- ... a bi-weekly video call to discuss concerns.
Open Educational Resources
Open Educational Resources (OER) are educational materials published under an open licence.
Unlike copyrighted educational materials, OER are free to use, adapt and share. They thus enable the sharing of education and knowledge across institutional and national boundaries.
To promote Open Educational Resources, we…
- … strive for the development and dissemination of OER within the framework of the OER policy.
- … offer a range of OER-related courses for interested parties and a Knowledge Base, via the Virtual Academy.
- … support teaching staff in the publication of their OER and provide them with the BFH’s own Repository for publication.
Further information and examples of good OER practice from BFH teachers can be found in the Virtual Academy.
Resources of the Virtual Academy
Other Open Science areas
The areas of Open Methodology and Open Peer Review are currently under construction.
