OPEN-ASIA: Boosting engagement of HEIs in Open Science in India and Malaysia

The OPEN-ASIA project`s proposal aims to support the digital economy and connectivity in the Partner Countries (PCs) (India and Malaysia) by advancing the implementation of Open Science principles and values considering the best practices of the European Union and needs of socio-economic environment in both PCs. The OPEN-ASIA proposal was developed in response to initialled “EU Strategy on Connecting Europe and Asia” (Joint Communication/ Brussels, 19.9.2018 JOIN (2018) 31 final). “The further strengthen the efficiency of existing and future connections, the Union, together with its partners, should address the transport, energy and digital links between Europe and Asia, while taking into consideration the rapid technological change, which has a strong impact on connectivity. While addressing the physical connections between Europe and Asia, the EU and its partners should also encourage connectivity and mobility amongst students, academics, and researchers”. High-capacity network links are critical to support the digital economy in Asian countries. Backbone network links with Asian and other third countries will contribute to a fully meshed network, providing the required bandwidth and other quality criteria for this increasingly critical infrastructure. Universal and affordable access to internet is a proven enabler of socioeconomic development. In its relations with Asian countries, the EU promotes a peaceful, secure, and open ICT environment, while addressing cybersecurity threats and protecting human rights and freedoms online, including personal data protection. A coherent regulatory approach is needed to support private and public investment in the ‘digital’ infrastructure, as well as policies and incentives to bridge the digital divide, particularly in remote regions or landlocked countries. The EU pursues its Digital4Development strategy in Asia promoting digital technologies and services to foster socio-economic development. The OPEN-ASIA project`s proposal is relevant to the objectives and activities of the CBHE action and specificities of the Strand 2: • Our OPEN-ASIA project`s proposal is addressing the CBHE action`s objective “Increase the capacities of HEIs, bodies in charge of higher education and competent authorities of third countries not associated to the programme to modernise their higher education systems, particularly in terms of governance and financing, by supporting the definition, implementation and monitoring of reform processes”. • For the benefit of Partner Countries` Higher Education Institutions (PCHEIs), the proposal combines the following element of the STRAND 2: “Promoting reform in HEIs to become catalysts of economic and social development” by supporting HEIs to develop and implement the institutional reforms that will make them more democratic, inclusive, equitable, and full-fledged constituents of the civil society. • The project`s proposal is addressing the overarching priority for “DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION” in region 5 “Asia” by supporting the digital economy and connectivity through digital transformation of education and science (by developing Data infrastructure, Data management, Digital inclusion, Inclusive and Responsible Research and Innovation, Collaborative research, Citizen Science).